Talks between the United States and Iran concluded constructively in Switzerland last night, and technical talks will continue this week, mediators said, after threats from President Donald Trump stalled progress.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said sanctions on the country’s oil had been lifted and some assets frozen abroad had been released. He also said that “Iran’s major reconstruction and development plan has been launched.”
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the United States and Iran had agreed to establish a high-level committee to provide “political oversight of the mediation.” The negotiators reporting to the committee will lead a group focused on nuclear issues, sanctions and other measures to implement the U.S.-Iran deal, the mediators said in a joint statement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said “good progress has been made,” a surprising outcome after so many years of uncertainty.
Just a few hours ago, Iranian sources told CNN in an interview with Fox News that President Trump’s attacks on Iran have stalled negotiations. President Trump threatened to resume bombing Iran and seize the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “If we don’t get a deal, we’re going to charge a toll.”
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Baghai said Iran initially refused to continue after President Trump’s threats were broadcast and oil prices rose, according to state media.
President Trump has previously proposed that the United States impose tolls on the strait, but insisted that Iran would never be allowed to do so. President Trump said last week that the U.S.-Iran deal would make the strait “forever toll-free.”
However, after the talks in Switzerland concluded, Qatar and Pakistan announced that Iran and the US had formed a “line of communication” to deal with the Strait of Hormuz incident, raising hopes that stability in the oil trade choke point lies ahead.
The line was established during the 60-day period outlined in the U.S.-Iran agreement “to avoid incidents and miscommunications for the purpose of safe navigation of commercial shipping.”
However, the talks remain tied to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which continues despite a recently renewed ceasefire agreement.
The United States and Iran have agreed to create a “deconfliction cell” involving Lebanon, with support from Qatar and Pakistan, to ensure an end to military operations in the country, mediators said.
Araguchi said the “first real test” is the effectiveness of the effort.
CNN’s Rex Harvey, Nick Robertson, Sophia Saifi and Eileen Greif contributed reporting.
