Iran said its technical talks with the United States in Switzerland have ended and that the next stage will be overseen by senior officials, including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Abbas Araghchi and J.D. Vance. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described the discussions as successful and said they opened the way to higher-level negotiations. He added that the sides agreed to create four working groups, including on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions on Iran, and also a group aimed at preventing escalation in Lebanon, with Lebanon, Pakistan and Qatar involved.
The talks took place overnight Sunday into Monday at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland. Despite the optimistic tone, contradictory statements quickly emerged over two main issues, frozen Iranian funds and the nuclear file. Vance said in a press statement that the U.S. had agreed to release some Iranian money if negotiations advance, and that the move would help American farmers because the funds would be used to buy U.S. goods. President Donald Trump also said Tehran would use the released money to purchase American products.
Iranian officials rejected that account. Qalibaf and central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said Iran is not obliged to buy U.S. farm products under the memorandum of understanding. Hemmati said the first $6 billion to be released will be governed by the 2023 U.S.-Iran prisoner swap agreement, which limits spending to basic goods and medicines. He said Iran would buy U.S. agricultural goods only if they are better priced and better quality, and noted that the agriculture ministry usually buys through large American and European companies. He also said the remaining frozen assets, including a second $6 billion tranche and all other frozen funds, would not be limited to basic goods and could be used for other non-sanctioned purchases.
A second dispute concerned whether the Iranian delegation had walked out. Vance said reports of a withdrawal from the 18-hour talks were false, but Qalibaf later said the delegation did leave after Trump began issuing threats and provocative remarks about Iran. He said he told Vance that the first clause in the memorandum of understanding says the two countries will not trade threats. Vance also said Iran agreed to allow nuclear inspectors access and told reporters, “We laid a very solid foundation for a successful final agreement.” But Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran has not yet discussed nuclear issues or made any new commitments in Switzerland, and that implementing Iran’s obligations under the Islamabad agreement depends on the other side ending the war, resuming Iranian oil exports, and releasing frozen assets and funds.
