Araghchi announces “major progress” on Lebanon
The head of Iranian diplomacy, Abbas Araghchi, reported on Monday June 22 “major progress” in negotiations with the United States, welcoming the release of Iranian assets and the lifting of restrictions on oil, in addition to progress on the Lebanese issue.
“Pakistani and Qatari mediation has enabled major progress to put an end to the war in Lebanon,” he wrote on X, following a first session of talks in Switzerland.
“Exports of oil and petrochemical products are no longer restricted, the blockade is lifted, some frozen assets are released, and a major reconstruction and development plan for Iran has been launched,” the foreign minister added.
Iran and United States agree to secure the Strait of Hormuz
Iran and the United States have agreed on a “line of communication” to secure transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the mediators of the negotiations in Switzerland announced.
“A line of communication between the parties has been created (…) in order to avoid incidents and communication problems, with the objective of ensuring safe passage for commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the Pakistani and Qatari mediators explained in a statement.
Towards a final agreement within 60 days
The United States and Iran have agreed on a “road map” to reach a final agreement within 60 days to end the war in the Middle East, during their first negotiating session in Switzerland, Pakistani and Qatari mediators announced.
The delegations “agreed on a road map aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days, thus laying the foundations for an immediate start of new technical discussions” which will continue this week in Switzerland, the Pakistani and Qatari governments wrote in a joint statement.
Establishment of a “conflict management unit” for Lebanon
Iran and the United States have agreed to create a “conflict management cell” to end the clashes in Lebanon, which have weakened the ceasefire in force in the Middle East, the mediators announced.
“The parties agreed on the creation of a conflict management unit, bringing together the parties and the Republic of Lebanon, and led by the mediators, in order to guarantee respect for the cessation of military operations in Lebanon,” details a joint press release from the Pakistani and Qatari mediators.
The night’s news
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Negotiations in Switzerland between Iran and the United States to achieve a lasting end to the war in the Middle East continued overnight from Sunday to Monday.
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The Iranian delegation dispatched to Switzerland to negotiate with the United States and mediators an agreement aimed at putting a lasting end to the war in the Middle East “remains engaged” in the discussions despite a message on social networks deemed “insulting” from Donald Trump.
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Israel announced on Sunday the lifting in the north of the country, near the border with Lebanon, of all gathering restrictions linked to the war with pro-Iranian Hezbollah from Monday.
