Iran and US Agree on New Political Communication Channel

Iran and the United States have opened a political communication channel following negotiations at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, although the two countries are confirmed not to have a military-to-military line of communication, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Tuesday. “First of all, there is no military communication channel. This is a communication channel between political parties from both countries. On our side, it is represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while on the American side, it is represented by their authorised officials from political institutions,” Baghaei stated during a press conference. According to Baghaei, the opening of the communication channel was agreed upon during negotiations between Iran and the United States, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, on Sunday, 21 June. Previously, in the early hours of Thursday, 18 June, Iran and the United States electronically signed a memorandum of understanding to end military conflict as of 28 February. The document also sets out a timetable for the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and for Iran to restore shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz.