Iranian Delegation Departs Switzerland After Concluding Talks with US, Technical Discussions to Continue

BERN: The Iranian delegation has departed Switzerland following the conclusion of negotiations between Iran and the United States hosted by Pakistan, according to Iranian state media.

Reports said the Iranian delegation formally protested what it described as threats made by US President Donald Trump during the course of the talks.

Speaking after the negotiations, Iranian delegation member Mehdi Ghorbanzadeh stated that no further substantial progress or detailed discussions on other issues would take place until matters related to Lebanon are addressed.

He emphasized that resolving issues concerning Lebanon is essential for achieving long-term stability in the region.

Meanwhile, an American news website quoted a US diplomat involved in the negotiations as saying that significant and positive progress had been made regarding efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, a key route for global energy shipments.

According to the diplomat, the overall atmosphere of the talks was constructive, with all parties stressing the need to make existing ceasefire arrangements more effective and sustainable.

The report added that participants held detailed discussions on mechanisms aimed at reducing tensions in Lebanon. The parties also agreed on a framework for future engagement between political leaders and technical teams to facilitate continued negotiations and diplomatic contacts.

Diplomatic sources indicated that all four participating sides appeared generally satisfied with the progress achieved and expressed their commitment to maintaining dialogue on a range of outstanding issues.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that the work of the negotiating delegation in Switzerland had been completed and that the delegation had returned after fulfilling its responsibilities. However, technical teams will continue their work on the remaining aspects of the negotiations.

Baghaei said the parties had agreed on a mechanism to ensure the safe movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

He added that discussions also focused on laying the groundwork for a final agreement and that encouraging progress had been made regarding the implementation of commitments by the other side.