The United States and Iran are said to have made progress in discussions over passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of exports of Iranian crude oil during high-level talks held in Switzerland.

U.S. Secret Service (USSS) snipers stand guard on the roof of a building at the Bürgenstock Resort near Lake Lucerne in Switzerland on June 21, 2026. A high-level meeting among the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar takes place here to reach an agreement to end the Middle East conflict. /Courtesy of Reuters

Esmail Baghaei, Spokesperson for Iran's negotiating team on relations with the United States, said in an interview with Iranian state television on the 22nd that "we reached an agreement with the United States to establish a mechanism related to safe vessel passage in the Strait of Hormuz," calling it "a very important matter." Baghaei also said, "We discussed issuing the permits needed for Iran's oil exports and the release of Iranian funds frozen overseas," adding, "This, too, is a very important matter on which considerable progress has been made."

Baghaei, however, reiterated that ending conflicts in the Middle East is a precondition for a final agreement, saying, "War must end on all fronts, including Lebanon." He continued, "At this stage, the negotiating team's mission has concluded, but a working-level team will proceed with follow-up talks attended by the mediator countries to discuss the details needed to implement the memorandum of understanding." He said, "The conditions specified in Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding must first be implemented before we can enter into full-fledged negotiations for a final agreement."

The provisions are said to include sanctions relief measures such as ending the wars on regional fronts including Lebanon, lifting the U.S. maritime blockade, reopening the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, allowing exports of Iranian crude oil and petrochemical products, and releasing Iran's frozen funds.

The talks are said to have continued for about 18 hours in Switzerland. Baghaei said, "As threatening remarks by the U.S. side were made public during the talks, Iran conveyed that it could no longer continue negotiations," adding, "Qatar and Pakistan, as mediators, urged us to keep talking, but we refused."

He also said, "It is the position of the Iranian negotiating team that we must strongly pressure the other side to fulfill its promises," noting, "In particular, we raised concerns that Israel is continuously violating the cease-fire agreement."

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.