US and Iran Form Four Working Groups to Accelerate Peace Deal Implementation
Negotiations between the United States and Iran, which have been taking place in Switzerland since last weekend, have yielded significant progress. A key achievement is the agreement to establish four working groups to handle various strategic issues in the implementation process of a previously agreed memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, explained that these working groups will serve as the primary means for discussing the various agendas that are the focus of the Washington-Tehran negotiations. "The negotiators decided that working groups will be formed, respectively for Sanctions Relief, Nuclear Affairs, Economic Reconstruction and Development, and Monitoring and Implementation," said Kazem Gharibabadi, as reported by Iranian state media IRNA on Tuesday (23/6).
The first working group will handle the issue of halting sanctions that the United States has imposed on Iran. Discussions will include the lifting of various economic restrictions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the granting of sanctions exemptions for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports.
The second unit is focused on post-conflict economic recovery. This group will design various economic incentives and regional development programmes to support stability and economic growth in the region.
The third working group will discuss Iran’s nuclear programme and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This unit is tasked with formulating a monitoring mechanism for Iran’s nuclear activities, including the inspection role carried out by the United Nations atomic agency.
Meanwhile, the fourth working group will be responsible for ensuring that all points in the interim memorandum of understanding are implemented as agreed. This unit will also handle any disputes that may arise during the implementation process. On the United States side, Vice President JD Vance stated that several of Washington’s main objectives were successfully achieved in the negotiations.
One primary focus is the establishment of a mechanism aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping, including the development of a coordination system for mine-clearing operations in this strategic waterway.
Additionally, both countries also agreed to build a deconfliction cell mechanism to support the implementation of regional ceasefires, including in Lebanon.
Another achievement is granting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to resume monitoring of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The negotiations in Switzerland are a follow-up to the memorandum of understanding signed several weeks ago by United States President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The signing was conducted separately without a direct meeting between the two leaders.
The agreement includes halting conflicts on various fronts, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting United States sanctions against Iran, and discussions regarding the future of Tehran’s nuclear programme. The MoU also stipulates that both countries must complete the negotiation process within 60 days of signing.
This framework is expected to become the foundation for a more permanent resolution of conflict in the region. Nevertheless, the diplomatic process still faces challenges. Amid the ongoing negotiations, President Donald Trump again issued a warning that the United States could take military action against Iran if necessary. He also asked Tehran to ensure that Hezbollah does not take actions that could disrupt the peace process. With the formation of these four working groups, Washington and Tehran are now entering a new phase in their efforts to translate political agreements into concrete steps that can support regional stability and reduce tensions that have persisted for years.