The talks represent a critical step in stabilizing the Middle East following a recently signed memorandum of understanding. Mediators Qatar and Pakistan reported constructive progress, establishing working groups to address the safety of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
Delegations met in Bürgenstock on Sunday. A joint statement issued on Monday by Qatar and Pakistan outlined a roadmap for a final agreement. Chief negotiators will lead working groups focusing on nuclear capabilities, sanctions relief, and dispute resolution.
The process experienced friction when Trump issued warnings on social media, demanding Iran halt its proxy actions in Lebanon or face heavier strikes. He also threatened that the US would take 20 percent of Middle East oil revenues if an agreement fails, and warned Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding his stance on uranium enrichment.
The Iranian delegation protested the remarks, refusing a pre-meeting photograph and suspending direct four-party talks. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed Tehran will now rely exclusively on mediators to advance the negotiations, as reported by Xinhua.
An Iranian national flag flutters from the widnow of a car as it drives through the southern Lebanese village of Siddqin, destroyed by Israeli military bombardment on June 15, 2026. Lebanon’s army on June 15, urged displaced residents to delay their return to southern border villages, hours after an agreement was announced between Washington and Tehran to end the Middle East war, including in Lebanon. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP) /
US Vice President J.D. Vance highlighted the potential impact of the meetings. “This is the start of technical negotiations that, while not resolving all differences, could serve as a turning point for the Middle East landscape,” Vance said.
Despite the diplomatic standoff, Baghaei noted that 18 hours of negotiations produced an agreement document detailing progress on Iranian oil sales licenses and unfreezing assets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reported advancements in ending the Lebanon conflict, securing sanctions waivers, and initiating a major national reconstruction plan.
Addressing the Lebanon conflict remains a priority for the working groups. Under US pressure, Israel is reportedly considering a small-scale withdrawal from southern Lebanon. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reiterated that military operations are ongoing and forces will maintain a 10-kilometer security buffer zone as long as necessary.
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The US delegation included Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and former White House advisor Jared Kushner. The Iranian team included Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Araghchi.
In regional developments, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the negotiations. Sisi emphasized that a comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue remains fundamental for lasting regional stability.
Technical talks are scheduled to continue this week through mediators, as regional leaders emphasize that any final agreement must guarantee the security of all Arab states.
