The first round of US-Iran talks is bringing “encouraging progress,” mediators said

Vice President JD Vance is expected to speak to reporters in Switzerland after participating in the first round of talks with Iranian officials.

At night, Pakistan and Qatar in a joint statement that “high-level talks” have ended, but technical talks will continue throughout the week.

A senior US official said on Sunday night that “the topics of discussion included clarifying some of the confusing messages from Iran in the Strait and ways to end the conflict and building to ensure that the Strait will remain fully open. We also worked on ways to end the conflict and enforce a ceasefire in southern Lebanon. We had strong discussions to use these nuclear issues through these practical issues today. Serve as a starting point for ongoing technical discussions going forward.”

Vance’s news conference will be streamed live in the player at the top of this page.

A spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the first round of talks with the US in Switzerland lasted 18 hours.

Speaking to Iran’s state broadcaster, IRNA, Esmail Baqaei said the talks started around 9:00 am on Sunday and continued until 3:00 am on Monday.

After the meeting, the Iranian delegation left Switzerland and returned to Tehran.

More talks are expected to take place this week, but the format has not yet been confirmed.

Pakistani and Qatari mediators said on Monday morning that Iran and the US had agreed to establish a communication line and a “de-confliction cell,” following the first round of talks in Switzerland.

In a joint statement issued early Monday, mediators said “encouraging progress” had been made during Sunday’s “good” Lake Lucerne Summit.

According to the mediators, the US and Iran agreed to establish a line of communication between the countries “to avoid incidents and miscommunication for the purpose of safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Additionally, a “de-conflict cell” was also established in cooperation with the Lebanese government to “ensure adherence to the cessation of military operations in Lebanon” under as per the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed last week by President Trump and his Iranian counterpart, mediators said.

The ongoing war between Israel’s military and Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon has threatened to derail the US-Iran accord, which calls for an end to all military operations in all sectors, including Lebanon.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised the “progress in ending the Lebanon War,” but said the de-confliction cell would provide the first real test of an agreement between Tehran and Washington.

Oil prices fell on Monday on hopes for US-Iran talks, with negotiators flagging a “road” to a final deal.

Traders remained upbeat after news that the two sides had temporarily suspended their standoff, which has pushed up energy costs and boosted inflation.

There was confusion following reports that Iran had called off talks over President Trump’s threat of further strikes if Hezbollah continued to attack Israel, but Pakistani and Qatari mediators said the talks took place in a “good and constructive atmosphere.”

Both main oil contracts fell in afternoon Asian trade, with international Brent crude down more than 1% to just under $80 a barrel.

Stock markets were mixed after a good start.

A senior member of Iran’s negotiating team has warned US officials to “be careful with their statements” and warned that Iran’s military is “ready to respond,” after President Trump threatened to strike Iran if it does not immediately stop Hezbollah from “causing trouble.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X: “Don’t they think that if their threats had an effect, they would not have reached the point of despair today? We do not trust the threats of the American people.”

The new saber rattling could inject new uncertainty into the already tense talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland.