Iran and US Conclude High-Level Talks with 60-Day Roadmap for Final Deal

High-level negotiations between Iran and the United States under a Memorandum of Understanding concluded on June 21, 2026, in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with both sides agreeing to a 60-day roadmap toward a final agreement. The talks, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, were conducted in a "positive and constructive atmosphere" and yielded what officials described as "encouraging progress." The parties established a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight of the mediation process and agreed to create a deconfliction cell to ensure compliance with the cessation of military operations in Lebanon.

Vice President JD Vance stated that the negotiations created "a good basis for a successful final agreement" and highlighted progress on mechanisms to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and address Israeli-Hezbollah clashes in Lebanon. President Trump praised efforts to maintain the critical waterway's openness and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Technical discussions are continuing throughout the week at the Burgenstock resort, with further negotiations involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned for regional partners including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Key developments include Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stating that mediation efforts have delivered "major progress to end the Lebanon War," noting that oil and petrochemical exports have been waived, the blockade lifted, frozen assets partially released, and a reconstruction plan launched. The US Treasury Department issued a 60-day sanctions waiver on Iranian oil, permitting imports to the United States for the first time in significant quantities since the 1990s. However, tensions emerged during talks when the Iranian delegation protested alleged US violations of ceasefire commitments, and Iranian sources indicated the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen if Israeli military operations in Lebanon continued and Lebanon's territorial integrity was not guaranteed.

The negotiations follow a February 2026 US-Israeli military strike on Iran that prompted Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, causing global fuel prices to spike. The agreement aims to address multiple fronts: securing the strategic waterway, achieving lasting ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, and establishing frameworks for broader regional stability. Trump's presence was felt throughout the talks despite his absence, with his public statements at times pausing negotiations before discussions resumed.