Iran war day 115: Lebanon deal appears to be working as Swiss talks end | US-Israel War on Iran News

Qatar and Pakistan mediators hail ‘encouraging progress’ on first day of Iran-US talks.

The first round of talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland has ended, with mediators saying that “encouraging progress” has been made, “including the creation of a path to further dialogue”.

The mediators between Pakistan and Qatar said that the parties have agreed to establish a high-level committee to oversee the project. The negotiators will brief and lead working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions and conflict resolution.

Technical talks, however, will continue this week as the two sides seek to discuss a range of issues, including Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Here’s what we know as the war enters its 115th day.

Diplomacy

• According to Pakistan and Qatar, the US and Iran have agreed on a 60-day deadline to reach a final deal. A high-level committee has been established to provide political oversight of the mediation process. The chief negotiator will report to the committee and oversee working groups, including on Tehran’s nuclear program and US sanctions on Iran.
• The parties have established a “communication mechanism” on the Strait of Hormuz and a “conflict resolution cell” to end military operations in Lebanon.
• Thomas Warrick, the non-resident director of the Atlantic Council, says the upcoming technical negotiations will be “very difficult” and could take longer than the 60 days included in the agreement. “You’re not going to have an agreement on the nuclear file, without having an agreement on the sanctions and the frozen goods,” Warrick told Al Jazeera. “That’s when one side gives up what the other side wants most and gives up what the other side wants.”

In Iran

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has hailed “great progress” to end the war in Lebanon and said the US has agreed to lift sanctions on Iranian oil and free up some frozen goods.
• Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the work of the Tehran team in Switzerland “has ended” and the technical teams will continue their work this week.
• The head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon or repeat its unconditional withdrawal in the year 2000. Esmail Qaani said in social media that if Israel continues its “aggression and occupation”, it will be driven into “shame and defeat”, according to TV-run Press.
• Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has criticized US President Donald Trump’s threats, saying the US should be careful with what he says. In the past, Trump has threatened to attack Iran over its support for Hezbollah.

In the US

• The U.S. military’s Central Command said U.S. forces “continue to operate in the air, on land, and at sea” throughout the Middle East. CENTCOM shared a photo of two warplanes it said were conducting “reconnaissance”.

In Lebanon

• Al Jazeera’s Heidi Pett, reporting from Nabatieh, said a ceasefire “seems to be happening” in Lebanon after days of deadly attacks. “There has been a subtle calm here in Nabatieh as the end of the war seems to be taking place. But there have been brutal and bloody days in this city and surrounding towns and villages,” he said.
• Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said his troops would remain in southern Lebanon as needed, while Hezbollah vowed to deal with any challenge to the ceasefire.