Technical talks between Iran and the United States held in Switzerland with the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan have ended with the signing of an agreement on the basis for future dialogue. The parties agreed to establish four working groups, each tasked with addressing key issues: lifting sanctions, the nuclear program, restoring the economy and development, as well as mechanisms for monitoring and implementing commitments. This step sent an important signal that both sides are ready to continue seeking a peaceful solution.
Commenting on the outcome ahead of a visit to Pakistan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that the success of the talks is possible only with strict fulfillment of all obligations undertaken. In his view, progress will be measured not by loud statements, but by concrete actions. In turn, U.S. Vice President JD Vance called the Swiss meeting “a good basis” for a final peace agreement, even though official Tehran denies that at this stage its nuclear program was discussed.
The mediators announced that a road map has been developed, рассчитанной на 60 days, intended to lead to a full-fledged agreement. It includes not only a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but also the creation of a special communication line to ensure the safe passage of cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. This item is especially important for global energy security, since a significant share of the world’s oil supplies passes through the strait.
From an economic standpoint, the most notable result was a temporary easing of sanctions: the U.S. Treasury Department has allowed Iran to sell oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals until August 21. The corresponding general license enables Tehran to receive payments for these shipments, excluding deals with North Korea, Cuba, and Ukraine. The head of the U.S. Treasury, Scott Bessent, explained that the 60-day relaxation was granted in exchange for Iran’s promise not to obstruct shipping in the strait and to allow IAEA inspectors.
A dispute has broken out over the fate of Iran’s frozen assets. U.S. President Donald Trump said the funds would be used exclusively to purchase food from American farmers. However, the head of Iran’s central bank, Abdolnasser Hemmati, refuted this, emphasizing that the signed documents do not contain such a condition. Iran can buy any goods that are not subject to sanctions, while American agricultural products will be considered only if they are competitive in price and quality.
The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, said that under the agreement it is planned to unfreeze around $12 billion, although the total amount of funds blocked abroad exceeds $100 billion. The first tranche of $6 billion, he said, will go toward purchasing essential goods and medicines in accordance with the 2023 agreement. However, the remaining amounts will not be strictly tied to food. At the same time, the temporary removal of oil sanctions gives Iran an opportunity to expand exports ahead of the final deal.
Comments on the news
- Who is Masoud Pezeshkian and how does his political profile affect the course of talks with the United States? - Masoud Pezeshkian is an Iranian reformist politician, a former minister of health, and a member of parliament. His profile, focused on diplomacy and domestic reforms, may imply a more flexible approach to negotiations with the United States than that of conservatives. However, his influence on foreign policy is limited because key decisions are made by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This creates a contradiction between public moderation and real levers of power.
- Why exactly did Qatar and Pakistan act as intermediaries in these talks, given their different levels of relations with Iran? - Qatar traditionally plays the role of a neutral mediator between Iran and the United States, using its energy and diplomatic ties. Pakistan, despite tensions related to the Sunni-Shia split, has a historical role in negotiations with Iran due to its geographic proximity and the need to balance relations with Saudi Arabia and the United States. Together, they provide communication channels that do not raise suspicions in Tehran—especially in a context of a trust crisis with the West.
Full version: إيران تعلن اختتام المحادثات الفنية وغموض بشأن أموال طهران المجمدة