Iran and US Forge New Negotiation Structure with Multilateral Oversight

On June 23, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the technical negotiation delegation, Gharibabadi, outlined the concrete outcomes of recent talks. Building on the consensus reached during quadrilateral meetings in Switzerland, the next phase of Iran-US negotiations will proceed under the supervision of a high-level committee.

A Framework Built on Specialized Working Groups

The high-level committee features multilateral participation, including Iran's Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister, the US Vice President, alongside the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Qatar. The operational core of the negotiations will be four dedicated working groups:

  • Sanctions Removal Working Group: Focused on the procedures and conditions for lifting US sanctions.
  • Nuclear Issues Working Group: Dedicated to technical verification of Iran's nuclear program and compliance.
  • Reconstruction and Economic Development Working Group: Planning Iran's post-sanctions economic recovery.
  • Monitoring and Implementation Working Group: Ensuring the practical fulfillment and ongoing oversight of agreements.

Establishing Security and Regional De-escalation Channels

Beyond the core working groups, two key coordination mechanisms were established. The first is a liaison point between Iran and the US, primarily tasked with ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The second is a Lebanon conflict de-escalation team involving Iran, the US, Pakistan, and Qatar, aimed at helping reduce tensions in the region.

The heads of the technical delegations from these four countries will jointly supervise the work of all groups and mechanisms, reporting progress regularly to the high-level committee.

Tangible Outcomes: Oil Licenses and Asset Unfreezing

Gharibabadi indicated that the technical talks have yielded specific results. In line with the consensus, the United States has issued a general license for the sale of Iranian oil, petrochemical products, and related services. This license has been officially published on the website of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

In a more substantial development, the parties agreed to immediately begin implementing a previously signed arrangement to unblock $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets. The funds will be released in two tranches of $6 billion each, marking the start of the operational phase for this agreement.