Iran and U.S. to Begin Final Peace Negotiations Friday Following War-Ending Memorandum

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced Tuesday that negotiations between Iran and the United States on a final peace agreement will commence Friday, following the official signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the war. The announcement came during remarks to foreign diplomats in Tehran, as the two nations, with Pakistan's mediation, move forward on resolving their conflict.

The peace process has been structured into two distinct stages to address the complex issues separating the two countries. The first stage focuses on immediate war-related matters including the formal declaration of the war's end, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of U.S. naval blockades against Iran, the release of Iranian frozen assets, and the reconstruction of war damages. Araghchi stressed that the most critical element of this initial phase is the "immediate and permanent" end of hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.

The second stage will extend over a 60-day period and will address Iran's nuclear program and the removal of international sanctions. Araghchi emphasized the inseparable connection between the Lebanon conflict and the Iran-U.S. war, noting that any future Israeli military action against Lebanon or continued occupation of Lebanese territory would constitute a violation of the peace memorandum. The MoU was finalized on Sunday and will be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday.

The agreement follows months of escalating tensions, including joint Israeli-U.S. attacks on Iranian cities beginning February 28, to which Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. regional assets. Despite these hostilities, the three-nation mediation involving Pakistan has resulted in this breakthrough diplomatic initiative, marking a significant shift toward de-escalation in the region.