Iran’s FM says ‘major progress’ made to end Lebanon war as Qatar, Pakistan announce creation of ‘de-confliction cell’; Netanyahu: War created conditions for regime’s fall.
The statement came after clashing reports from US and Iranian sources during a rocky first day of negotiations. A senior US diplomat said overnight Sunday-Monday that Iran’s delegation was still present at the Swiss venue where the two countries had held talks, after Iranian state media reported that the team from Tehran had left the site in protest of US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats against the Islamic Republic. The talks, building off of a memorandum of understanding the two sides signed last week, aim to permanently end the Iran war and reach an agreement on sensitive topics such as Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel, which began the war with Iran in partnership with the US, is not a party to the talks, and the MOU’s terms have caused deep concern among Israeli officials. Iran and the US, meanwhile, have clashed over Israel’s continued conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where the MOU calls for a ceasefire. The mediators’ statement also said that Iran and the United States had agreed to set up a “de-confliction cell” with Lebanon to stop military operations there.
“The parties agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon,” the joint statement read. The statement mentioned neither Hezbollah nor Israel. Commenting after the first day of talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there was “major progress” made. (Ed note: I don't like it. If FM Araghchi has a smile on his face, that can't be good for everyone else.) (Read More)
