US-Iran Agree to Lebanon De-Confliction Cell, 60-Day Roadmap

The United States and Iran on Sunday agreed to establish a direct communication line to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and a de-confliction cell to halt fighting in Lebanon.

The breakthrough followed the first round of high-level negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland.

The diplomatic teams, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, established a roadmap intended to secure a final agreement within 60 days.

Technical talks are scheduled to continue for the remainder of the week at the Swiss resort.

Lebanon De-Confliction Cell

The newly established de-confliction cell will operate as a liaison between the negotiating parties and the Lebanese authorities.

Facilitated by Qatari and Pakistani mediators, the mechanism is intended to ensure strict adherence to a ceasefire across all military fronts, particularly to prevent hostilities from re-escalating between Israel and Hezbollah.

In tandem with the Lebanon mechanism, the parties established a contact channel to avoid incidents and miscommunication in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran had previously closed the strategic waterway following joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28, reopening it under the preliminary framework before recent clashes in Lebanon threatened another closure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the mediation had delivered major progress toward ending the war in Lebanon.

Araghchi noted that the framework includes waivers for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, the lifting of blockades, the release of certain frozen assets, and a reconstruction plan for Iran.

He identified the Lebanon de-confliction cell as the first real test of the agreement.

Shaky Start With Trump’s Threats

The negotiations advanced despite significant friction at the opening of the session on Sunday.

The Iranian delegation briefly walked out in response to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of strikes if Tehran failed to halt its proxies in Lebanon.

Ghalibaf rejected the warnings, stating that Iranian armed forces were prepared to respond to any hostile actions.

Crude prices slipped, and Asian stock markets mostly gained following reports from mediators that the talks had successfully resumed.

Ground Realities in Lebanon

While diplomatic progress was recorded in Switzerland, the conflict in Lebanon has exacted a heavy toll, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting a death toll exceeding 4,100.

Planned talks had been postponed on Friday following deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon that occurred after four Israeli soldiers were killed in combat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as necessary, while Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir claimed Hezbollah had suffered a significant blow.

However, by Sunday evening, no new strikes were reported, and some displaced residents began returning to southern Lebanon.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance described the meeting as historic, questioningly noting whether the parties could permanently alter Middle Eastern relations.

Concurrently, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian maintained that Tehran would not relinquish its right to enrich uranium, though he repeated assurances that Iran has no intention of building a nuclear weapon.