The negotiations between the United States and Iran are moving towards a new technical phase in Switzerland, following the conclusion of the first round of political talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, which witnessed diplomatic momentum interspersed with sharp tensions in light of threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Formation of Specialized Working Groups

The Iranian Students' News Agency reported that technical talks will commence today, Monday, to discuss the mechanisms for implementing the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, and to form specialized working groups to follow up on the proposed files.

The Iranian delegation in the technical talks is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi, with the participation of experts in political, economic, and legal affairs, along with representatives from Qatar and Pakistan as mediating countries.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the upcoming phase will see the establishment of technical committees and a supervisory committee to monitor the implementation of the memorandum's provisions. It noted that the discussions addressed issues related to oil exports and associated exemptions, the release of Iranian financial assets, and taking practical steps to begin implementing some of the agreements.

Commitment for Commitment

Tehran emphasized that the principle of "commitment for commitment" forms the basis for verifying the implementation of mutual obligations, asserting that the formation of working teams and engaging in broader negotiations remain contingent upon the implementation of several key provisions outlined in the memorandum.

The transition to the technical track came a day after intensive discussions in Switzerland, where Qatari and Pakistani mediators announced "encouraging progress" in several files, including the establishment of a mechanism to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and arrangements aimed at ensuring the security of navigation and the continuation of transit in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the positive atmosphere that prevailed in part of the talks, the negotiations faced a temporary setback following sharp remarks made by Trump against Iran, prompting the Tehran delegation to express its protest and raise the issue during the meetings as it contradicted the principles governing the negotiations, before communications resumed through direct mediation from Doha and Islamabad.

60-Day Roadmap

The two sides agreed, according to a statement from the mediators, to establish a high-level political committee and specialized working groups focused on the nuclear file, sanctions, and mechanisms for resolving disputes.

The two parties reached a 60-day roadmap aimed at negotiating a final agreement, along with the establishment of a permanent communication line regarding the Strait of Hormuz to avoid any incidents or miscalculations that could affect international navigation.

In the Lebanese file, the formation of a joint cell to de-escalate tensions and monitor the establishment of a ceasefire was announced, a step that Tehran and Washington see as a preliminary test of the new understandings' ability to achieve tangible field results.

The technical teams are set to continue their work in Switzerland throughout this week, focusing on discussing the executive details of the political, economic, and security files, as part of an effort to transform the initial understandings into practical commitments that pave the way for a broader negotiation round in the upcoming phase.

Tangible Progress in Several Files

For his part, the Pakistani Prime Minister announced the successful conclusion of the first meeting of the high-level committee stemming from the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, confirming that the discussions made tangible progress in several key files.

He pointed out that the discussions resulted in an agreement on a roadmap leading to a final agreement within 60 days, a step he described as laying the foundation for a new phase in the negotiation process between Washington and Tehran. He praised the constructive commitment from both the U.S. and Iranian sides during the talks, expressing his appreciation for the friendly countries that supported the diplomatic efforts and contributed to the success of this process.

He mentioned that the meetings concluded with an agreement to form a high-level committee to politically oversee the negotiation process, in addition to launching specialized technical talks to follow up on the executive files and implement the agreed-upon understandings.