Ghalibaf and Vance to Lead Negotiating Teams in Switzerland

Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the statements on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Foreign Minister's briefing with foreign ambassadors and heads of international missions in Tehran. He told reporters that the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States regarding the termination of the war will take place in Switzerland, either digitally or in person, after which formal negotiations will commence under the leadership of Ghalibaf and Vance.

The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the bilateral negotiations between Iran and the United States will proceed in Switzerland immediately following the official signing of the memorandum of understanding this coming Friday.

Reflecting on the Foreign Minister's briefing with foreign diplomats in Tehran, Takht-Ravanchi stated that while such meetings are held routinely, the current breakthrough in Iran-US conflict termination talks provided an opportune moment to brief the international community on the indirect negotiations conducted via mediators and the specific content of the finalized memorandum of understanding.

Takht-Ravanchi went on to say that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined the specific sectors covered by the memorandum of understanding during the briefing, reinforcing that the war has concluded permanently across all fronts, with a particular emphasis on Lebanon.

The senior diplomat explained that the briefing thoroughly detailed the strategic importance of Lebanon and why Tehran explicitly insists on the permanent cessation of hostilities on the Lebanese front. He noted that among the most crucial provisions of the memorandum of understanding is the national reconstruction plan and its framework, alongside clauses ensuring the release of Iran's frozen financial assets, regulations regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of the US naval blockade against Iran.

Takht-Ravanchi officially announced that the lifting of the naval blockade against Iran has already commenced and has successfully entered its operational phase.

Responding to a question from ISNA regarding the specific venue for the talks, the Deputy Foreign Minister stated that while the memorandum of understanding will be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday, the exact Swiss city has not yet been finalized. He added that the duration of these initial sessions in Switzerland remains to be determined as the logistical details are still being worked out.

When asked whether the negotiations could potentially extend beyond the designated timeframe, Takht-Ravanchi clarified that it is too early to judge, noting that the framework has set a maximum limit of 60 days.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also pointed out that the current memorandum of understanding does not delve into the technicalities of the nuclear file, emphasizing that nuclear issues will be addressed exclusively during the final stage of negotiations, focusing on Iran's enrichment activities, stockpiles, and peaceful nuclear requirements.

In response to a query regarding Foreign Minister Araghchi's warning that any renewed attack on Lebanon would constitute a material breach of the pact despite continued Israeli strikes, Takht-Ravanchi stressed that the text of the memorandum of understanding explicitly mandates the termination of the war and all military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. He concluded that the United States has legally committed on behalf of its partners to ensure the cessation of hostilities across all theaters, adding that a specific dispute mechanism has been integrated into the memorandum of understanding to address and rule upon any potential violations.