Iran discusses Lebanon ceasefire, oil, and frozen assets in Switzerland

Tehran is determined to closely monitor the implementation of commitments made by the United States under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeli Baqaei said ahead of talks in Switzerland on Sunday. Baqaei, who is accompanying the Iranian delegation to the meeting, focused on follow-up steps related to the 18 June 2026 MoU on ending the war by the US and Israel, writing on his X account that Tehran is committed to ensuring the agreement’s provisions are implemented precisely and seriously. According to Baqaei, the meeting in Switzerland is intended to review progress in implementing the MoU’s key provisions. He stressed that under Article 13 of the document, negotiations towards a final agreement can only begin after several specific commitments have been met. These include Articles 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of the MoU. Baqaei emphasised that without the implementation of these clauses, particularly Article 1, which calls for a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, it is impossible to proceed with negotiations for a final settlement. He added that the current talks are primarily focused on implementing these provisions, especially the ceasefire requirement. The discussions also reviewed mechanisms designed to enforce Article 10, which relates to the resumption of Iranian oil exports, and Article 11, which addresses the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as head of the negotiating team, arrived in Zurich on Saturday evening local time. From the US side, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner are present in Switzerland, while Vice President JD Vance will also join the talks. Vance said the meeting could last one to two days and will discuss implementation of the memorandum, the Lebanon ceasefire, and issues related to Iran’s nuclear file.