Iran's top negotiator departed peace talks in Switzerland on Monday following an 18-hour marathon session with the United States, as mediating parties from Pakistan and Qatar reported significant progress toward finalizing a deal to end the Iran war. Conditions were set for immediate technical talks, with both sides entering a 60-day period to settle a long-term agreement.
Memorandum of Understanding Signed
A memorandum of understanding was signed last week between Iran and the U.S., laying out the framework for negotiations. Key unresolved issues include Iran's nuclear program and its stockpile of enriched uranium. Mediators stated that technical discussions on these matters would follow the high-level talks.
Trump Warns Iran Over Proxies
U.S. President Donald Trump warned of new attacks on Iran if it did not “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble.” Iran responded sharply, with its chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stating, “They would do better to be careful with their statements; our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner. No matter what they say, we are the ones who act,” according to AFP.
Ceasefire in Lebanon Holds Tentatively
No reports of Israeli strikes or continued fighting emerged on Monday morning, with some residents of southern Lebanon cautiously returning to their homes. Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited troops in south Lebanon on Sunday, asserting that Hezbollah was in a “very difficult position” and that the army was prepared to prevent its rebuilding. The overall death toll in Lebanon has surpassed 4,100, according to the health ministry, per AFP.
Iranian Negotiating Team Departs
Iran’s top negotiators left Switzerland after the intensive session, state media reported. The team included Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, Deputy Oil Minister Hamid Boord, and nuclear negotiator Ali Bakri, as reported by Al Jazeera. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said that “a very brief discussion took place regarding the nuclear issue, but there was no discussion of details,” and that nuclear talks had not yet begun, per AFP. Technical teams led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi remain in Switzerland to continue negotiations on the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, according to ISNA and Tasnim news agencies.
De-Confliction Cell to End Lebanon Conflict
The U.S. and Iran reportedly agreed to establish a “de-confliction cell” in Lebanon, facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan, to ensure the termination of military operations in Lebanon, mediators stated in a joint statement after the peace talks, as reported by CNN. “The parties agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon as per the MoU,” the statement read. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later called the effort the “first real test” of the agreement's effectiveness. Fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has persisted in Lebanon despite a renewed ceasefire agreement, which had become an obstacle to a broader peace deal between Iran and the U.S. Since March 2, the conflict in Lebanon has killed more than 4,000 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
