Qatar and Pakistan announce Lebanon deconfliction channel after first Iran-U.S. talks round in Switzerland

The first high-level round of talks under the understanding between the United States and Iran ended overnight in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, with Qatar and Pakistan issuing a joint statement about the results. The mediators said the meeting, held with representatives of Iran, the United States, Qatar and Pakistan, took place in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and produced “encouraging progress.”

According to the statement, the sides agreed to create a senior committee to oversee the mediation process politically. The negotiators’ heads will report regularly to that committee and lead working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, and monitoring and resolving disputes. The committee also approved a roadmap to reach a final agreement within 60 days, with technical talks to resume immediately.

The mediators said the talks also created a communication channel for the period covered by the memorandum of understanding, aimed at preventing incidents and misunderstandings and ensuring safe passage for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, they said a “deconfliction cell” would be established between the parties and Lebanon, through the mediating states, to ensure the ceasefire in military activity in Lebanon, in line with the memorandum.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X that Pakistan and Qatar’s “unceasing mediation” had produced significant progress toward ending the war in Lebanon. He said export exemptions for oil and petrochemical products had been granted, the blockade had been lifted, some frozen assets had been released, and a major plan for Iran’s economic reconstruction and development had been launched. Araghchi added that the “first real test” would be the Lebanon deconfliction cell.