First round of US-Iran talks ends with encouraging progress, mediators say

First round of US-Iran talks ends with encouraging progress, mediators sayImage source, ReutersImage caption, Iran's lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has dismissed Donald Trump's threat to renew strikesByMaia Davies, Mallory Moench and BBC VerifyPublished21 June 20261394 CommentsUpdated 22 June 2026The first round of negotiations between the US and Iran to reach a final deal to end the war has ended with "encouraging progress", mediators Qatar and Pakistan say.In a joint statement early on Monday, Qatar and Pakistan said that the parties had agreed to "a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days". Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said there had been "major progress" towards ending the conflict in Lebanon.The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last week includes a commitment to ending the fighting on "all fronts" - including Lebanon - and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War," Araghchi posted on social media."Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran."The Iranian lead negotiators left the talks in Switzerland on Monday, Iranian media said, with technical discussions between the parties due to continue. The mediators' joint statement said that a "communication line" had been formed "to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz".Both sides also agreed to the creation of a "de-confliction cell" between the US, Iran and Lebanon, facilitated by the mediating countries, to end military operations in Lebanon, their statement said. Araghchi said the first "real test" would be the Lebanon de-confliction cell.Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke to senior officia...