First phase of U.S.-Iran peace talks concludes

Negotiators on Monday wrapped up the first phase of U.S.-Iran peace talks in Switzerland, according to a joint statement from mediators Qatar and Pakistan. The talks came after U.S. and Iranian leaders on Wednesday signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding to end the war between the United States and Iran. Both parties agreed to continue negotiations and report to an oversight committee on their progress, according to the Monday statement. The committee set a roadmap to resolve remaining issues within 60 days. Talks will continue in Switzerland for the rest of the week, according to the statement.

Qatar and Pakistan said they established a line of communication between the United States and Iran—two countries that typically interact indirectly through mediators—in order to prevent “incidents” and confusion about commercial vessels’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The parties also agreed to create a “de-confliction cell” to ensure an end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, a condition of the U.S.-Iran memorandum, according to the statement. The Lebanese government said it would participate in the mechanism, according to the statement, but it was unclear whether Israel had also agreed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as needed to protect their country. Israel was not at war with Lebanon but with the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah, he said.

What have U.S. and Iranian leaders said about the talks? U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Sunday that great progress occurred during talks. America was willing to reset its relationship with Iran if Iran would stop seeking a nuclear weapon and stop driving regional instability, he said.

Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that talks advanced an end to fighting in Lebanon. The first test of progress would be the development of the de-confliction cell, he added.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.