Following marathon negotiations, delegations from the United States and Iran agreed on a "road map" toward a final agreement that would bring the conflict to an end within 60 days, according to a joint announcement by Pakistan and Qatar, the countries acting as intermediaries between the two sides.

The two parties "agree on a road map with the objective of reaching a final agreement within a 60-day timeframe, thereby laying the groundwork for the immediate launch of new technical talks," which will continue this week in Switzerland, Islamabad and Doha said in a joint statement.

The two sides also agreed to establish a "communication line" designed to guarantee safe passage through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

"A communication line has been established between the parties (...) to avoid incidents and communication failures, with the aim of ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz," Pakistan and Qatar said in a joint statement.

At the same time, the Iranian and U.S. delegations agreed to immediately establish a "conflict management cell" aimed at ending hostilities in Lebanon.

"The parties agree to create a conflict management cell, involving the parties and the Republic of Lebanon," with mediators playing a role in providing "guarantees for maintaining the cessation of military operations in Lebanon," the joint statement explained.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks with the United States as having achieved "significant progress," expressing satisfaction over the release of Iranian funds previously frozen abroad, sanctions exemptions allowing Iranian oil sales, and efforts to end the war in Lebanon.

"The tireless mediation efforts of Pakistan and Qatar have brought significant progress toward ending the war in Lebanon," Araghchi wrote on X after the first round of negotiations in Switzerland concluded.

"Exports of oil and petrochemical products are exempted from sanctions, the blockade is lifted, certain frozen assets are being released, and a major program of reconstruction and development for Iran is beginning," he added.

Source: cnn.gr