Pakistan and Qatar say talks in Switzerland have produced significant steps toward halting the Lebanon conflict, Iran’s chief negotiator reported on June 22. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, who has led Tehran’s engagement with the United States, posted on X that mediation by Pakistan and Qatar has delivered ‘major progress’ aimed at ending the war in Lebanon.
According to Araghchi’s summary of a joint Pakistan–Qatar statement, the package includes waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the lifting of a blockade, the release of some frozen assets, and the launch of a large reconstruction and development plan involving Iran. He added that the ‘first real test’ will be the operation of a Lebanon deconfliction cell designed to prevent further military escalation.
The talks, referred to as the Lake Lucerne Summit, brought together high-level delegations including Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Qatar’s foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. The joint statement said the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere and produced a mechanism for continued technical negotiations.
Parties agreed to create a High Level Committee to provide political oversight of the mediation. Chief negotiators will report to that committee and lead working groups focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, monitoring, and dispute resolution to ensure implementation of the memorandum of understanding. Technical talks are scheduled to continue at the Burgenstock resort for the remainder of the week.
The joint statement also pledged the establishment of a de-escalation cell involving the parties, the Lebanese Republic, and the facilitators to ensure adherence to a termination of military operations in Lebanon as outlined in the MoU.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social warning Iran to stop what he called ‘highly paid proxies’ in Lebanon or face renewed, tougher military action. His comment underscored persistent tensions and the fragility of any diplomatic gains.
Officials described the Swiss talks as a step forward but cautioned that implementation and continued technical work will determine whether the progress holds. Observers say the formation of oversight bodies and the deconfliction cell will be key tests of whether the ceasefire commitments can be maintained and translated into a lasting reduction in violence.