Qatar and Pakistan have announced “encouraging progress” in ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran after the first round of high-level talks concluded at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland.
In a joint statement released early Monday, the two mediating countries said discussions were conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere and resulted in several important agreements aimed at advancing the diplomatic process.
The talks, held at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, brought together US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf for a 100-minute direct meeting. The discussions focused on implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed on June 17, which seeks to ease tensions and establish a framework for future cooperation.
According to the statement, both sides agreed to establish a high-level committee that will provide political oversight of the negotiations. The committee will receive regular updates from lead negotiators and supervise specialized working groups dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions-related matters and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The mediators said the committee had adopted a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. As part of this process, a new round of technical talks will begin immediately to address key issues and develop detailed implementation plans.
The parties also agreed to create a direct communication line to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important global shipping route.
In addition, a de-confliction cell involving the United States, Iran, Lebanon and the mediators will be established to support the implementation of arrangements aimed at ending military operations in Lebanon.
Technical-level discussions are scheduled to continue throughout the week at the Swiss resort. Qatar and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating dialogue and expressed appreciation to both Washington and Tehran for maintaining a diplomatic approach to resolving their differences.
The mediators said they would continue working with all parties to help secure a comprehensive and lasting agreement.