Iran says technical talks in Switzerland have ended, new joint working groups formed

Iran said on Tuesday that the technical talks between delegations in Switzerland have concluded. According to the Iranian deputy foreign minister, four joint working groups have been created to address sanctions relief, nuclear weapons issues, and the country’s economic reconstruction. He said more rounds of talks involving senior diplomatic officials will be scheduled later.

The U.S. Treasury Department also approved a series of oil-related sanctions waivers, effectively granting a temporary license for oil exports. In Israel, officials worry the easing could allow Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards to divert incoming funds toward military rebuilding.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that “the effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the obligations and their precise implementation,” adding that “progress along this path will be judged by practical adherence to the agreed commitments. Statements outside the agreed text do not help advance the negotiations.” Separately, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator and parliament speaker, defended the talks on X, saying that if the delegation had not gone to Switzerland, “more blood of Muslims and Shiites in Lebanon” would have been shed.

Tehran is also denying U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s claim that Iran agreed to invite IAEA inspectors to the country. After 18 hours of talks in Switzerland, Vance said the Iranians had agreed to bring in the inspectors and called it “the first step toward the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program.” He added that a foundation for a nuclear deal had been built, that Iran had not walked away, and that the U.S. had already tried to contact the inspectors, expecting access within the week, possibly even the same day. Vance also said temporary sanctions relief allows the production and sale of oil, and described arrangements intended to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and to create a deconfliction mechanism in Lebanon to prevent escalation between Hezbollah and Israel.