16/06/2026
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16/06/2026
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TEHRAN, Jun 16: A new round of talks between Iran and the United States will begin on Friday in Switzerland, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday, as both sides move forward with discussions following a preliminary memorandum of understanding aimed at ending regional hostilities.
Araghchi said the negotiations would follow an initial phase focused on issues including ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the maritime blockade and addressing reconstruction efforts.
He said the next stage of talks would last 60 days and focus on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
However, Araghchi warned that Tehran considers developments in Lebanon to be directly connected to any broader settlement. He said an end to the war in Lebanon is an “inseparable part” of ending the wider conflict and argued that any Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued Israeli presence in Lebanese territory would violate the memorandum of understanding.
“The important point I want to stress here is that, in our view, the two sides of this memorandum of understanding are, on one side, the United States and Israel, and on the other, Iran and Hezbollah,” Araghchi said.
He added that a complete end to the conflict would require the withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas occupied during the war.
“Ending the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of ending the war as a whole, and ending the war also includes ending the occupation. Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the land they occupied in this war, the war has not fully ended,” Araghchi said.
The talks come as Washington and Tehran seek to translate a broader understanding into concrete arrangements covering security, nuclear issues, sanctions and regional stability.
While the first phase is focused on immediate de-escalation measures, the second phase is expected to address some of the most difficult disputes between the two sides, including limits on Iran’s nuclear activities and the future of US sanctions.
The planned negotiations in Switzerland will be closely watched by regional actors, particularly Israel and Iran’s allies, as any agreement could have wider implications for conflicts across the Middle East.
