Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran could be more difficult, but expressed confidence that the two sides can still reach a final agreement.
Speaking to an Arab news outlet, Dar said Iran had agreed to reduce the level of its uranium enrichment instead of transferring its enriched uranium stockpiles abroad, a step initially sought by Washington.
He said three technical working groups would be set up to address key issues, including the nuclear file, frozen Iranian assets and developments related to Lebanon.
Dar also revealed that commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed to transit for 60 days without additional tariffs under the latest understanding, paying only standard navigation and service charges.
According to the deputy prime minister, US President Donald Trump personally supervised the negotiations between Washington and Tehran, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates supported mediation efforts.
Describing the arrangement as positive, Dar said the agreement contained no negative aspects and voiced optimism that ongoing diplomacy would eventually produce a comprehensive settlement despite challenges in the next stage.
His remarks came after mediators announced encouraging progress in the first round of US-Iran talks held in Switzerland.
In a joint statement, Pakistan and Qatar said the two sides had agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. Technical-level discussions are expected to continue this week at the Swiss resort of Buergenstock.
The statement said the parties had also agreed on a mechanism to end fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah and established a communication channel to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Vice President JD Vance said the first round of talks had laid a strong foundation for a final agreement aimed at ending tensions in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the progress and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting dialogue and diplomacy for a peaceful and lasting resolution.
The prime minister also thanked Qatar for facilitating the negotiations and expressed gratitude to Switzerland for hosting the talks.
