The United States and Iran on Monday agreed to establish a direct communication channel and a new de-confliction mechanism following the first round of talks in Switzerland, according to Pakistani and Qatari mediators.
In a joint statement, the mediators said the high-level discussions at the Lake Lucerne Summit ended with “encouraging progress” after what they described as positive talks between the two sides.
According to the statement, Washington and Tehran agreed to create a direct line of communication aimed at preventing misunderstandings and reducing the risk of incidents, particularly around commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The two sides also reportedly agreed to establish a de-confliction cell in coordination with the Lebanese government to help oversee compliance with commitments related to ending hostilities in the country, amid the continued fighting between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants which has increasingly threatened to undermine the broader agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.
Under that memorandum of understanding, both sides committed to ending military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed what he described as progress towards ending the conflict in Lebanon, but said the new de-confliction mechanism would be the first major test of the agreement between Tehran and Washington.
According to a senior US diplomat, the discussions in Bürgenstock reportedly focused on several key issues, including confusion surrounding recent Iranian statements on the Strait of Hormuz, measures to guarantee freedom of navigation, and mechanisms to prevent escalation in Lebanon.
The diplomat said negotiators also held detailed discussions on elements of a potential future nuclear agreement and agreed that technical talks would continue in the coming days.
According to Iran’s foreign ministry, the first round of negotiations lasted around 18 hours before the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran.
While no timetable has been announced for the next round of meetings, both sides are expected to continue discussions this week as they work towards a broader agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, regional security issues and maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, is expected to address reporters following the conclusion of the opening round of talks.
