Bürgenstock (Switzerland): The first round of technical talks under the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran focused on maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon, ensuring the continued opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and advancing discussions on a potential nuclear agreement, Axios reported, citing a US diplomat familiar with the negotiations.
The talks began on Sunday morning in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, and continued throughout the day in multiple formats. One of the major issues discussed was the situation in Lebanon, with efforts aimed at establishing “deconfliction mechanisms” and enforcing the ceasefire amid ongoing Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.
Negotiators also addressed concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, following recent Iranian statements suggesting the possibility of closing the waterway. “We made clear we want to ensure it remains fully open. We made good progress on that front,” the US diplomat told Axios.
According to the report, discussions covered all aspects of a prospective nuclear agreement between Washington and Tehran. The parties also examined implementation-related issues connected to the 14-point MoU signed last week to ensure alignment on key objectives.
In addition, the delegations discussed a framework for continuing negotiations at both political and technical levels. “The parties also discussed a plan for how to keep talks going both on the political level and between the technical teams,” the diplomat said.
The US diplomat expressed optimism about the outcome of the first round, saying all four parties appeared satisfied with the progress made. “The mediators are helping both sides work through things. We feel this initial round of talks is setting us up for trust-building going forward,” the diplomat added.
Senior political-level talks are expected to conclude on Monday, while technical teams are likely to remain in Switzerland to continue discussions.
Earlier, CNN reported, citing an Iranian source, that negotiations had reached a temporary roadblock but had not collapsed. Despite recent tensions, including threats by US President Donald Trump, back-channel diplomatic efforts are continuing to encourage both sides to return to formal negotiations.
The first round of high-level US-Iran technical talks was suspended after 80 minutes to allow delegations to conduct internal consultations, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.
US Vice President JD Vance met senior Iranian officials on Sunday as part of efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the West Asia crisis. The talks, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, focused primarily on Tehran’s nuclear programme and key challenges under a fragile interim agreement, including the future status of the Strait of Hormuz.
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