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Iran says Lebanon will be 'main topic' of US talks in Switzerland

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meets with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis (R) to discuss the implementation process of a Memorandum of Understanding in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (Photo via Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meets with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis (R) to discuss the implementation process of a Memorandum of Understanding in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (Photo via Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)
June 21, 2026 12:54 PM GMT+03:00

Iran said Sunday that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah will be the "main topic" of discussion in talks with the United States in Switzerland, alongside the issues of Iran's frozen assets and licenses for Iranian oil sales.

"The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon; this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today's talks," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to meticulously and seriously pursue the process of implementing the other party's commitments. Today's meeting in Switzerland is to follow up on the implementation of the provisions of the memorandum of understanding on the termination of the war dated June 18, 2026," he said on X.

"According to paragraph 13 of the memorandum of understanding, the start of negotiations for the final agreement is contingent upon the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11. Without the implementation of these provisions, especially paragraph 1 (termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon), entry into the negotiation phase for the final agreement is not possible," Baghaei stated.

"Today's discussions are focused on the implementation of the aforementioned paragraphs, especially paragraph 1, as well as a review of the measures envisaged for implementing paragraphs 10 (the matter of Iran's oil exports) and 11 (the release of Iran's frozen assets)," he added.

He added that "the issue of making available Iran's frozen or restricted assets, as well as the discussion related to issuing the necessary licenses for the sale of Iranian oil," would also be on the agenda.

Flags of Switzerland, United States, Qatar, Pakistan and local Swiss canton of Nidwalden are photographed at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (AFP Photo)
Flags of Switzerland, United States, Qatar, Pakistan and local Swiss canton of Nidwalden are photographed at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Bilateral talks with Pakistan, Qatar first, then quadrilateral session

Baghaei said the Iranian delegation would first hold bilateral meetings with Pakistani and Qatari mediators, followed by an afternoon quadrilateral meeting involving Iran, the United States, Qatar and Pakistan.

He said the focus of the talks would be ending the war and implementing the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

According to Tasnim News Agency, Baghaei said, "We are set to have a one-day session today. The plan is that in the morning we will have bilateral meetings with the Pakistani and Qatari delegations as mediators, and in the afternoon a quadrilateral meeting will be held between the delegations of Iran, the United States, Qatar and Pakistan."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis to discuss the implementation process of a Memorandum of Understanding in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (Photo via Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis to discuss the implementation process of a Memorandum of Understanding in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (Photo via Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)

'US has not implemented Article 1 of the agreement'

Baghaei said Iran signed the agreement on June 18 and has pursued its implementation from the first moment. "The implementation of any document is more important than its signing," he said, according to Tasnim.

"The diplomatic process to reach a result is one discussion, and the far more important discussion is pursuing implementation," he added.

He said the session reflects Iran's seriousness in demanding and pursuing the other side's commitments. "We never intended to sign a document and expect that this document would be implemented automatically by the other side," he said.

"We are by no means setting aside our previous experiences. With this mindset, this session is focused on pursuing the implementation of the agreement," Baghaei added.

Baghaei noted Article 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding is explicit: that beginning negotiations toward a final agreement is conditional on five specific provisions, including Article 1, which concerns ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.

"We know this article has not been implemented, and the United States has either been unable or unwilling to do so. The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment," Baghaei said, adding, "This issue is the main topic of discussion in today's talks."

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Esmail Baghaei attends a press conference at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, Iran, May 4, 2026. (AA Photo)
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Esmail Baghaei attends a press conference at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, Iran, May 4, 2026. (AA Photo)

Strait of Hormuz remains 'completely closed'

Iranian media reported that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to all vessel traffic.

Fars News Agency, citing an unnamed military official, said the strait remains closed and that no ships will be permitted to pass until a further announcement is made by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the wartime command of Iran's armed forces, said Saturday that the strait was closed to shipping traffic due to the United States' failure to fulfill its commitments under the agreement and Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon.

Fars denies report of a newly signed agreement

Fars News Agency reported that a source close to the Iranian negotiating team denied reports circulated by Al Jazeera regarding the re-signing of the agreement.

"Contrary to some claims made in foreign media, there is no agreement on the agenda for re-signing," the source said.

"The negotiation process continues within the established frameworks, including fulfillment of Article 13 and the leadership's conditions, but the reports published regarding the finalization or re-signing of the agreement are inaccurate and have not been confirmed by the negotiating team," the source added.

The Iranian negotiating delegation, which traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, overnight, held a 90-minute internal working session Sunday morning to review the latest status of the negotiations.

During the session, delegation members reviewed the United States' commitments under the Islamabad MoU and assessed the latest status of their implementation, coordinating their approach for pursuing the issue of unfulfilled U.S. commitments in separate meetings with mediators later in the day.

Iran's foreign minister was scheduled to meet with his Swiss counterpart, followed by a meeting between the head and members of Iran's negotiating delegation and the Qatari delegation, a bilateral meeting with the Pakistani delegation, and a quadrilateral session with the American, Qatari, and Pakistani delegations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meets with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis (R) in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (Photo via Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meets with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis (R) in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, June 21, 2026. (Photo via Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout)

Qatari PM meets Ghalibaf to discuss frozen funds, $300B investment

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of Iran's negotiating delegation, at the Burgenstock hotel in Switzerland.

The agenda for the meeting included pursuing implementation of the memorandum's provisions, including Article 1 and Article 11, the cessation of war on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, and the release of $12 billion in Iran's frozen assets, as well as Article 6, concerning the $300 billion in investment tied to reconstruction.

A spokesperson for the negotiating team said the day's discussions are planned to continue until tonight and are not expected to run longer.

"We have come to demand accountability and state the instances of violation of the agreement, and these issues will also be raised in this afternoon's session between the mediators and the United States," Baghaei said.

June 21, 2026 01:10 PM GMT+03:00
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