US and Iran agree on ‘roadmap’ towards final deal in Switzerland talks
In the first round of talks in Switzerland, the US and Iran agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days. The agreement includes establishing communication channels for the Strait of Hormuz and ending fighting in Lebanon.
The first round of talks between high-level officials from Iran and the United States in Switzerland has ended with both sides agreeing on a "roadmap" towards a final deal to end their more than 100-day war. The talks, led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, opened on Sunday as part of a two-month negotiating period outlined in a preliminary deal reached last week.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the negotiators agreed on a "roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days" with technical talks continuing for the rest of the week at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock. They detailed the creation of a contact channel to "avoid incidents and miscommunication" over the Strait of Hormuz and a "deconfliction cell" between the parties and authorities in Lebanon to prevent fighting from erupting there again.
Tehran had essentially blocked the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for joint attacks by Israel and the US on February 28 that triggered the war. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict when Iran-aligned Hezbollah attacked Israel in response, prompting Israel to launch a wide-scale bombing campaign and ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
Despite the roadmap agreement, tensions flared when US President Donald Trump threatened on Sunday to attack Iran over its support for Hezbollah. Iran's chief negotiator Ghalibaf responded with a warning of his own, stating that Iran's armed forces are ready to respond in a different manner.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon "as long as necessary."
Vance hailed "a historic meeting" and said President Trump asked them to "turn over a new leaf" in relations with Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that Tehran would not relinquish its right to enrich uranium while repeating Iran's denial of seeking nuclear weapons.
