Lucerne, Jun 22 (V7N) – The first day of the second round of high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran has yielded encouraging progress, with mediators Qatar and Pakistan announcing an agreement on a roadmap aimed at reaching a comprehensive deal within the next 60 days.

The talks, held at the Bürgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, followed an initial framework agreement reached last week. According to a joint statement issued by the mediators, both sides agreed to continue technical discussions throughout the week to advance negotiations on unresolved issues.

The statement said a dedicated communication line would be established to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and help prevent misunderstandings in the strategically important waterway.

The U.S. delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance and included senior envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner. Iran was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials, while leaders from Qatar and Pakistan participated as mediators.

Officials said discussions covered several sensitive issues, including Iran's nuclear program, regional security concerns, the situation in Lebanon, and the implementation of previous understandings related to maritime security and conflict de-escalation.

The negotiations come amid lingering tensions despite last week's interim agreement, which sought to reduce hostilities and address concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Although Iran previously announced restrictions affecting the waterway, shipping traffic has largely continued, according to reports.

During the talks, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed warnings against Iranian-backed groups operating in Lebanon, while Iranian officials dismissed the threats and insisted that negotiations would proceed based on national interests.

Despite signs of diplomatic progress, major challenges remain, including regional conflicts, nuclear-related issues and long-term security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiators will now work toward transforming the current framework into a final agreement before the 60-day deadline expires.

END/SMA/AJ