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The Qatari and Pakistani mediators issued a joint statement late Sunday-Monday regarding the conclusion of talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland. The first round of high-level talks, held under the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, concluded with the participation of representatives from both countries, alongside the mediating countries, Qatar and Pakistan, which took place at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated in a statement: "Positive and constructive atmospheres prevailed during the first day of the Lucerne Lake Summit, where encouraging progress was made, which included establishing a mechanism for continuing technical talks."
The statement added: "Based on the memorandum of understanding, the parties agreed to establish a high-level committee that will oversee the political aspects of the mediation efforts, with the lead negotiators submitting periodic reports to the committee, alongside leading specialized working groups concerned with the nuclear file, sanctions, and establishing a follow-up and conflict resolution working group to ensure the effective implementation of the memorandum of understanding, in addition to addressing other relevant issues."
The high-level committee agreed on a roadmap aiming to reach a final agreement within 60 days, laying the groundwork for the immediate commencement of technical talks. A communication channel was also established between the parties for the period mentioned in paragraph five of the memorandum of understanding, to avoid incidents and misunderstandings, ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
The mediators indicated that "technical" talks between Iran and the United States will continue throughout the week at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland.
Iran announced that it had made "good progress" regarding negotiations related to oil and Iranian assets, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi writing in a post on X platform: "The diligent Pakistani-Qatari mediation has made significant progress towards ending the Lebanon War." He added, "Oil and petrochemical exports were exempted from sanctions, the blockade was lifted, some frozen assets were released, and a major reconstruction plan for Iran was launched."
The first round of quadrilateral talks between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar in Switzerland, ended on Sunday, after 80 minutes from its start.
Iranian media reported that Tehran's delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, left the venue of the talks in "protest" against the "threats" of U.S. President Donald Trump.
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Fars News Agency quoted an informed source as saying that the "quadrilateral meeting was suspended after 80 minutes of talks for internal consultations."
After leaving the meeting, Qalibaf posted on X: "Don't they think to themselves that if their threats had any impact, they wouldn't have reached such a state of desperation today? We do not rely on American threats."
The head of the Iranian delegation added: "They should be careful in their statements, as our armed forces are on standby to respond in another way. No matter what they say, we will execute it."
Trump had threatened earlier on Sunday, "the United States will resume its attacks on Iran unless the Iranians can prevent their allies in Hezbollah in Lebanon from stirring up trouble."
On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that "the United States will resume its attacks on Iran unless the Iranians can prevent their allies in Hezbollah in Lebanon from stirring up trouble."
Trump added: "Iran must immediately restrain its generously supported agents in Lebanon from stirring up trouble. If they do not do so, we will hit Iran hard again, just as we did last week, but even harder."
However, J.D. Vance emphasized Trump's directives to work on "opening a new chapter" in relations with Iran.
Vance said before the talks that he expected the technical discussions to "pave the way" for positive future outcomes.