First US-Iran committee meeting under Islamabad MoU yielded 'encouraging progress': PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday welcomed what he described as significant progress in talks between the United States and Iran, saying a high-level meeting held in Switzerland had produced an agreement on a roadmap towards a final deal within the next 60 days.

In a statement posted on X following the conclusion of the first High-Level Committee Meeting under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the premier said the discussions in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, had taken place in a "positive and constructive atmosphere".

"The discussions were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere and yielded encouraging progress, including agreement on a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days, the establishment of a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight, and the commencement of further technical talks," Sharif said.

The prime minister praised both Washington and Tehran for their engagement in the process.

"I commend the leadership of both the United States as well as Iran for their continued commitment to constructive engagement," he said, while also thanking "all brotherly and friendly countries for their valuable support in advancing this historic process."

Sharif singled out Qatar for its role in facilitating the negotiations.

"In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to our brotherly country Qatar, for its critical support in creating the conditions necessary for these negotiations to move forward," he said.

He also thanked Switzerland for hosting the talks, stating: "A word of thanks to the Swiss Government for their facilitation in hosting these talks."

The premier paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, crediting him for helping advance the negotiations.

"I would like to pay special tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir whose untiring efforts made these talks a success. His dedication, commitment and perseverance are indeed commendable without which there would have been no progress," Sharif said.

He further praised Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for their contributions.

"I would like to pay my warm compliments and heartfelt gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, for his diplomatic efforts along with his team at the Foreign Office," he said, adding: "I also deeply appreciate the hard work of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi who contributed immensely to the success of these talks."

The prime minister said Pakistan would continue supporting efforts aimed at resolving disputes through dialogue.

"Pakistan will continue to play its honest and sincere role in advancing dialogue and diplomacy towards a peaceful and lasting resolution," he said.

Iran says held 'brief discussion' with US on nuclear issue

Iran said Monday it held a "brief discussion" with the United States on its nuclear program during talks in Switzerland, but insisted negotiations on the issue had not begun.

"One of the points raised by the American delegation was the presentation of its positions regarding the nuclear issue," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.

"A very brief discussion took place regarding the nuclear issue, but there was no discussion of details, and it cannot be said that negotiations on the nuclear issue have begun," he added.

Iran says ‘important steps’ agreed for final-deal negotiations following Switzerland talks

Iran said on Monday that “important steps” were agreed during talks in Switzerland to pave the way for negotiations on a final agreement with the US, state news agency IRNA reported.

Speaking after intensive four-party talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said: “In general, important steps were agreed upon to pave the way for the start of negotiations related to the final agreement.”

“We hope that in implementation, we will witness seriousness from the other side (US),” he added.

Baghaei said one key outcome of the talks was an agreement to establish a new monitoring mechanism, described as a “deconfliction cell,” with the participation of mediators to oversee the continuation of the ceasefire and halt in hostilities, particularly in Lebanon.

He added that the sides also exchanged important messages regarding provisions related to issuing the necessary licenses for Iranian oil sales and the release of Iran’s frozen or restricted assets, saying progress had been made on both issues.

Baghaei added that discussions addressed the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with the parties agreeing to establish a mechanism aimed at ensuring maritime security in the strategic waterway.

“Technical teams will continue their work on the issues I mentioned and other issues necessary for the effective implementation of this memorandum of understanding,” he said.

Israeli Cabinet minister rejects ceasefire, says Lebanon ‘should be Israel’s playground’

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called Monday for rejecting any ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, saying the Arab country “should be Israel's playground.”

“Israel cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon,” the extremist minister told Israel’s public broadcaster KAN in an interview.

He urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convey Israel’s rejection of any ceasefire in Lebanon to US President Donald Trump.

“Trump is a true friend, and we must treat him politely and embrace him, but we need to tell him that we cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon,” Ben-Gvir said.

“We are the ones making decisions, and there are good results for our soldiers,” he added.

His opposition comes amid growing disputes within Israeli political and security circles over a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran and their possible implications for ending the war on the Lebanese front.

Israel and Lebanon are set to hold a fifth round of direct negotiations in Washington on Tuesday. The upcoming talks follow four previous rounds between the two sides that began in April as part of a track aimed at ending the Israeli war in Lebanon.

The US-mediated negotiations come as criticism grows inside Israel over Washington’s handling of talks with Iran and Hezbollah.

The Israeli news site i24NEWS, citing Israeli officials, said Tel Aviv fears that an agreement between the US and Iran could strengthen Tehran and its allies in the region.

The officials claimed the Trump administration and its negotiating team “misunderstands the ideology driving Tehran and Hezbollah.”

“Trump doesn’t speak Shia,” they said, in reference to what they claim is a failure to understand the nature of Iran’s system and Hezbollah.

China urges US, Iran to work in ‘same direction for positive results'

China on Monday urged the US and Iran to “work in the same direction” for “positive results” after the top negotiators of the two sides met in Switzerland.

Beijing hopes that the US and Iran “will keep the good momentum in negotiation and working in the same direction for positive results,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in the Chinese capital.

The statement from Beijing came after Pakistan and Qatar early Monday announced significant progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran following the conclusion of the first round of high-level talks at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland.

"The Lake Lucerne Summit was conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Encouraging progress has been made, including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks,” read a joint statement from the two mediators.

Guo, the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said: “China supports Pakistan and Qatar and all relevant parties in their mediation efforts.”

Iranian delegation off to Tehran after 18 hours of talks with US: State media

Iran's delegation left Switzerland for Tehran on Monday after nearly 18 hours of intensive negotiations and consultations, the state-run IRIB news reported.

The delegation, headed by Iran's Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, departed after the conclusion of the Lake Lucerne Summit in Burgenstock.

Earlier, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said the talks were held in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and yielded “encouraging progress.”

The mediators said the sides agreed on several mechanisms aimed at advancing negotiations toward a final agreement, including the establishment of a High-Level Committee, the formation of technical working groups, and a 60-day roadmap toward a final deal.

US and Iran conclude high-level talks in Switzerland, mediators say

The first round of talks between high-ranking US and Iranian officials in Switzerland ended Monday, mediators said, after a tense opening marked by ​Tehran's announcement it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz and US President Donald Trump repeating his threats to resume attacks on Iran.

A joint statement from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan said the ‌US and Iran agreed to a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days. Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, according to the statement, which was released by the Qatari foreign ministry.

Read: 1st round of 4-party Iran-US talks concludes in Switzerland

The parties agreed to a mechanism to end the fighting in Lebanon and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passages for commercial ships through the contested strait, the statement said.

US Vice President JD Vance began talks with Iranian officials on Sunday under the terms of a memorandum of understanding reached ​last week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days. The discussions continued until the early hours of Monday.

In a post on social media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ​his country had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and the launch of a reconstruction and development plan for Iran.

The White House ⁠had no immediate comment when asked if high-level talks had wrapped for now.

Just before talks officially began on Sunday, Fox News reported that Trump said he told Iranian officials "you won't have a country" if they tried to close the strait again. Trump ​also reiterated an earlier threat that the US would take over the waterway and possibly charge a toll of its own, Fox News said.

Trump said he agreed to last week's memorandum of understanding to avert a global economic depression from high ​oil prices caused by the strait's closure. Oil prices had tumbled over the past week to levels unseen since the war started on February 28 with US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

After the joint statement, Brent crude futures fell further, dropping more than $1 to $79.44 a barrel.

US and Iranian sources provided separate accounts of the discussions in Switzerland.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing an informed source, said that after Trump's threats became public, the Iranian delegation refused to return to the room where talks were held, though messages were still being traded via Pakistani and ​Qatari mediators.

According to Tasnim's source, Iranians said that the start of negotiations on nuclear matters required the delivery of other parts of the MOU, including the release of frozen assets and US waivers authorising Iranian oil exports.

“The Iranians never left ​and are still here meeting and negotiating deep into the night," a US diplomat involved in the talks told Reuters. "We’ve talked about the Strait, Lebanon, nuclear issues, and details of implementing the MOU, among other topics."

The agreement calls for reopening the Strait of ‌Hormuz, a choke ⁠point for global energy shipments, and ending all hostilities, including in Lebanon, where Israel has continued to launch deadly strikes as Iranian ally Hezbollah fires at Israeli targets.

Iran, arguing that the US had failed to meet its commitment to halt fighting in Lebanon, said on the weekend that it had again stopped maritime traffic through the strait and that Sunday's talks would not cover substantive issues such as Iran's nuclear programme.

At the talks in Switzerland, where US and Iranian officials met in the presence of Qatari mediators, Vance played down the impact of violence in Lebanon, saying progress had been made towards ending hostilities there.

Read more: Iran, US agree on roadmap to final deal within 60 days

"These things are always a little bit messy," he said.

Back in the United States, Trump threatened to resume ​attacks on Iran if it did not rein in ​its allies.

"Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES ⁠in Lebanon from causing trouble," Trump wrote on social media, apparently referring to Hezbollah. "If they don't, we'll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!"

Even as Trump was threatening Iran, Vance told reporters the US president had "asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran."

A US diplomat ​late Sunday said discussions included “clarifying some of the confusing messaging from Iran on the Strait and building deconfliction mechanisms to ensure the Strait will remain fully open.”

Israel won’t pull back from Lebanon ‘security zone’: Foreign Minister Saar

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has told New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters that Israel would respect the Lebanon ceasefire as long as Hezbollah does not breach it, according to Al Jazeera.

“We don’t have territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but we will not withdraw from the security zone and expose our citizens to Hezbollah’s attacks and possible invasion,” Saar said in a post on X, referring to land in southern Lebanon occupied by Israel.

Lebanon’s sovereignty has been breached for decades, Saar said, by what he described as Iran’s “indirect occupation” through Hezbollah.

“It’s the interest of both Lebanon and Israel that Hezbollah’s terror state will be dismantled,” he added.

Head of IRGC’s Quds Force warns Israel to leave southern Lebanon

The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s Quds Force has warned Israel to leave southern Lebanon or face a repeat of its unconditional withdrawal from the country in 2000, according to Al Jazeera.

Esmail Qaani said in a post on social media that if Israel persisted in its “aggression and occupation”, it would be kicked out in “humiliation and defeat”, according to state-run Press TV.

“If you do not withdraw from southern Lebanon on your own feet, the epic of the year 2000 will be repeated once again, the same year you fled this land in disgrace,” Qaani said. “The choice is yours.”

Liberation Day is celebrated every May 25 in Lebanon to mark the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the south of the country in 2000, after 22 years of occupation.

Iran cites Lebanon as reason to close Strait

Despite ⁠the announcement of a new ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, there has been scant sign of an end to fighting there. Iran said on Saturday that as a result, it had again shut the strait, whose closure for nearly four months caused the biggest disruption of global energy supplies in history.

Five vessels passed the strait on Sunday, a sharp drop from the 26 ships spotted a day earlier, data from analytics firm Kpler showed. The data may exclude vessels that switch off their transponders while ⁠travelling in the ​Gulf.

Sunday appeared to be the quietest day in Lebanon for some time, with no reports of major violence by nightfall, after two days ​of heavy Israeli strikes and fire from Hezbollah fighters on Israeli positions.

More than 1 million people have fled their homes in Lebanon since Israel invaded in March to pursue Hezbollah fighters who fired across the border in support of Tehran.

Reuters journalists in southern Lebanon on Sunday saw some of ​the heaviest traffic since the memorandum was signed, with residents returning to their homes. Some stood beside cars backed up on the highway and waved Hezbollah flags.