Washington Forced to Recognize Iran’s Role in Lebanon

TEHRAN – Iran’s senior 
negotiating delegation returned to Tehran on Monday to a hero’s welcome after securing a series of significant concessions from the United States during nearly 18 hours of intensive talks in Switzerland, including the temporary lifting of oil sanctions and the release of frozen assets, according to Iranian officials.
The delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, departed the Bürgenstock resort following “intensive” negotiations that extended through the night of June 21-22. 
The talks were mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, whose leaders described the outcomes as a significant diplomatic breakthrough.
In what officials hailed as a major victory for Iran, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a 60-day general license on Monday authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals, and petroleum products. 
The license, valid until August 21, 2026, includes all associated services such as banking transactions, insurance, and transportation.
“In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on social media.
Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA will continue according to existing procedures, consistent with parliamentary legislation and Supreme National Security Council decisions.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance had told a press conference at the Bürgenstock hotel that “the Iranians have agreed to once again invite IAEA inspectors into their country.” However, Baghaei emphasized that Iran’s interactions with the Agency have never been fully suspended even during the recent conflict.
“Iran’s interactions with the Agency are in accordance with its safeguards commitments, continuing according to the current procedure and consistent with the approvals of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the decisions of the Supreme National Security Council,” Baghaei stated.
According to informed sources, Tehran did not engage in nuclear negotiations during the 18-hour talks and did not accept any new commitments. The initiation of nuclear negotiations, under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding for
 ending the war between Iran and the U.S., is contingent upon the implementation of Clause 13 of the memorandum.
Over the past year, cooperation between Iran and the IAEA has never been completely suspended, even after the 12-day war. In accordance with the “Law on the Obligation of the Government to Suspend Cooperation with the IAEA,” passed on June 25, 2025, Tehran has invited IAEA inspectors to visit active nuclear sites on a case-by-case basis based on Supreme National Security Council approvals.
Since the law’s passage, IAEA inspectors have conducted several inspections of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, monitoring the fuel loading process carried out by Russia, with Supreme National Security Council approval. Therefore, the issue of inspections of Iran’s active nuclear facilities is not new, and Tehran has always cooperated with the Agency regarding these sites.
Visits to damaged nuclear sites and addressing the status of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves are contingent upon reaching a specific mechanism in the final agreement following the 60-day negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum.
The license also allows for the importation of Iranian-origin oil into the United States when necessary to complete its sale or delivery — a development that has not meaningfully occurred since sanctions were imposed following the 1979 revolution. Payments to Iran may be made in U.S. dollar-denominated funds, giving Tehran greater access to American currency.
Central Bank Governor Hemmati confirmed that “significant progress” had been made regarding the release of Iran’s frozen assets, with relevant documents signed during this round of talks. 
Hemmati described the negotiations as “compact and difficult” but noted that the outcome “basically moved forward in accordance with the goals set by the Iranian delegation.”
“The issue of the Central Bank’s frozen assets is one of the most complex topics in the current negotiations,” Hemmati told Tasnim News Agency. 
“God willing, in the coming days, access to these resources will gradually become operational under specific conditions and according to the procedures set by the Central Bank.”
Foreign Minister Araghchi hailed the talks as producing “major progress to end the war in Lebanon”. 
“Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end the Lebanon War,” Araghchi wrote on social media. “Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction and development plan launched for Iran.” 
The mediators’ joint statement confirmed that a “de-confliction cell” involving Lebanon would be established “to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations” in Lebanon — effectively recognizing Iran as a legitimate party in managing regional stability. 
According to a source close to the negotiations, mechanisms have been established for the implementation of Clause 1 regarding Lebanon, with Iran’s role in the cell formally recognized.
The joint statement also announced the creation of a communication channel between the parties during the negotiation period to prevent incidents and support the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. 
The arrangement is intended to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to an escalation of tensions.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar announced that the parties had agreed on a 60-day roadmap toward a final agreement, with technical negotiations set to continue immediately. 
The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed that “conditions had been established for technical discussions to begin immediately” following the conclusion of the main talks.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi will lead the Iranian technical team, which includes experts in political, economic, and legal affairs, as discussions continue on implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
According to a source close to Iran’s negotiating team, the nuclear issue was not discussed during the talks. The source confirmed that “there was a very brief discussion on the nuclear issue, but it did not go into detail,” and that nuclear negotiations had not formally begun. 
The Iranian delegation traveled to Switzerland primarily to monitor the implementation of the memorandum’s key clauses, including the ending of the war on all fronts, the lifting of the naval blockade, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The negotiations were briefly disrupted on Saturday when the Iranian delegation walked out in protest following a threatening social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Iranian side protested U.S. violations of commitments under the memorandum.
However, talks continued through the night using Qatari and Pakistani mediators as channels, with the Iranian delegation ultimately returning to the negotiating table. 
Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf responded to Trump’s threat by stating that Iran “does not attach any value” to U.S. threats, adding: “Don’t they realize that if their threats were effective, they wouldn’t have reached today’s desperate situation?”
The return of Iran’s delegation marks the conclusion of a historic round of negotiations that has secured concrete economic relief, international recognition of Iran’s strategic role, and a clear diplomatic path forward — all achieved through dignified engagement from a position of strength.