Photo credit: Thr Guardian
“Positive and constructive” talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland have wound up 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 of more attacks on Iran.
The New Daily reports that a joint statement on Monday from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan said the US and Iran agreed to a roadmap toward a final peace 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 thee Qatari foreign ministry..
It said there had been agreement on a mechanism to end the fighting in Lebanon and a communications line had been opened to help ensure safe passages for commercial ships through the contested strait.
The US Vice President opened talks with Iranian officials on Sunday under the terms of a memorandum of understanding reached ast week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days.
The discussions continued until early Monday (local time).
In a post on social media Tasnim, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran initially refused to continue the talks after Trump’s threats.
Qatar and Pakistan later released a statement saying “encouraging” progress made by both sides.
“The Iranians never left and are still meeting and negotiating deep into the night,” a US diplomat involved in the talks told Reuters.
Even asTrump was threatening Iran, Vance said he had “asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran”.
