©picture alliance / Photoshot | -
Amid a back-and-forth exchange of threats, Iran and the United States are trying to build a constructive dialogue toward an effective peace agreement.
In Switzerland, Iran and the United States laid the groundwork for further negotiations on a potential peace agreement in the Middle East. The first round of talks concluded overnight from Sunday to Monday. Both delegations negotiated through the night.
According to mediators, the talks focused, among other things, on guarantees that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and on compliance with the ceasefire in Lebanon. Both countries are also said to have agreed on the establishment of a so-called “deconfliction cell” to monitor the ceasefire in Lebanon. In addition, a communication channel will be set up to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The mediators also discussed a high-level committee tasked with providing political oversight of the process. Technical discussions are expected to continue through the end of the week, with the goal of reaching a final peace agreement within sixty days.
According to a diplomatic source, the Iranian delegation remained engaged in the talks, despite reports that it had temporarily left the negotiating table. This was prompted by statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned on Sunday on Truth Social that the U.S. would strike Iran hard if the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah in Lebanon caused trouble.
Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called on the United States to watch its words. According to Iranian media, the talks were briefly interrupted, but the Iranian delegation does not intend to walk away from the negotiations entirely.
The agreed-upon framework stipulates that a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. must also include a ceasefire in Lebanon. Israel has since accused Hezbollah of violating that ceasefire, while Hezbollah claims that Israel is ignoring the agreements by continuing its attacks in southern Lebanon. The Iranian team emphasizes that no further substantive negotiations can take place as long as the violence in Lebanon continues.
©picture alliance / Photoshot | - The photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump signing the MOU between the U.S. and Iran on June 17, 2026, in France.