High-level Swiss talks conclude with roadmap for final ceasefire deal within 60 days; sides agree on Strait of Hormuz safe-passage mechanism and Lebanon de-escalation body; Iran cites 'significant progress' on oil exports and frozen assets; Hezbollah remains wild card

The Iranian negotiating delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (center), arrives at a resort in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday (local time) for peace talks with the United States. [AFP]
The Iranian negotiating delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (center), arrives at a resort in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday (local time) for peace talks with the United States. [AFP]

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

The United States and Iran wrapped up their first high-level follow-up talks in Switzerland and agreed to establish separate consultative bodies to manage the Strait of Hormuz and the Lebanon front. The two sides put in place the first institutional mechanisms to move the ceasefire memorandum of understanding, signed June 14, into an implementation phase, setting full-scale negotiations toward a final ceasefire agreement within 60 days firmly in motion.

Qatar and Pakistan, the mediating countries in the ceasefire negotiations, announced in a joint statement Monday (local time) that the first high-level talks between the United States and Iran had concluded.

The two sides agreed to establish a senior-level committee to oversee implementation of the MOU and a roadmap for concluding a final ceasefire agreement within 60 days. The committee will in effect serve as the top decision-making body responsible for monitoring political-level compliance and resolving disputes.

The most closely watched outcome of the talks was the agreement to build separate management frameworks for the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon.

The two sides agreed to establish a direct communications channel to prevent accidents and miscalculations and ensure safe passage for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The arrangement gives the United States and Iran a standing line of communication to avert maritime clashes even as military tensions remain elevated.

A separate agreement on Lebanon also emerged. Under the joint statement, the United States and Iran agreed, with support from the mediating countries, to set up a "de-escalation body" to monitor compliance with the cessation of military operations in Lebanon. The move is an effort to manage the Lebanese front separately, given that clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to destabilize the negotiations even after the ceasefire MOU was signed.

Iran assessed the outcome positively. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told state television that the two sides had agreed on a safe-passage mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz, calling it "an important matter." He said discussions also covered permits for Iranian crude oil exports and the release of frozen assets, and that significant progress had been made.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media that "critical progress has been made toward ending the war in Lebanon," adding that sanctions exemptions for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, the lifting of the maritime blockade, the release of some frozen assets, and the launch of reconstruction and development plans had all been achieved.

The talks had originally been scheduled for June 19 but were postponed after Iran requested a delay. Iran had maintained that progress would be difficult unless the Lebanon front was resolved, arguing that Israel continued to attack Hezbollah even after the MOU was signed.

Article 13 of the MOU explicitly lists the end of hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, the lifting of the US maritime blockade, permission for Iranian crude oil exports, and the release of frozen assets as preconditions for the start of final negotiations.

The situation in Lebanon is therefore expected to be the biggest variable in the talks ahead. Araghchi signaled as much immediately after the meeting, saying "the first real test will be the Lebanon de-escalation body" — an indication that stability on the Lebanese front will be the decisive factor in whether the final ceasefire negotiations succeed.

The United States and Iran plan to continue working-level negotiations this week with the mediating countries present. Those talks are expected to focus on the scope of sanctions relief, the mechanism for releasing frozen assets, procedures for permitting crude oil exports, and the governance structure of a reconstruction fund.

Qatar and Pakistan said in their joint statement that "the talks were conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere" and that "there was encouraging progress, including the establishment of mechanisms for future technical talks."

However, analysts warn that the entire ceasefire roadmap could be thrown into doubt again if fighting in Lebanon flares up or military action between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. While the talks mark a starting point for the ceasefire process, considerable political and military obstacles remain before a final agreement can be reached.


sjy@heraldcorp.com