US and Iranian delegations wrapped up a stage of negotiations in Birgen Mountain, Switzerland, in the early hours of June 22. According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei, the two sides made progress on frozen assets and a shipping transit mechanism in the Strait of Hormuz, while technical teams will continue working after the diplomatic delegation completes its part of the talks.
Talks began on June 21 and ran through the night
The negotiations opened on June 21 in Switzerland. The US side was led by Vice President Vance, and the Iranian side by Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators. The first formal meeting started at 11:30 GMT and lasted 80 minutes before a pause for internal consultations on both sides.
CNN, citing a senior US diplomatic official on June 21, reported that the American delegation was expected to work through the night. Later that evening, the Iranian delegation briefly left the venue in protest after President Donald Trump posted a warning on Truth Social, saying Iran must immediately stop its actions through “proxies” in Lebanon or face another US strike.
Frozen funds and oil sales licenses moved to the center of the agenda
In a series of messages released through Tasnim in the early hours of June 22, Baghaei said Iran and the United States had discussed oil sales licenses and the unfreezing of Iranian assets, adding that the discussions produced “good progress.”
Iranian President Pezeshkian had previously said that $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in Qatar would be returned under the agreement. That issue has been one of the most closely watched parts of the negotiations. No detailed implementation terms were released in the statements cited in the source material.
Transit arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz was said to be agreed
Iran also said an arrangement had been reached on the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Ministry did not publish specifics. Earlier, Pakistan’s foreign minister had said that no transit fees or service charges would be imposed during a 60-day period.
The strait is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. The source material notes that about 1 in every 4 barrels of oil globally passes through the waterway, which is why any change tied to access or security there tends to draw immediate market attention.
Diplomatic delegation steps back while technical teams stay on
Baghaei said the work of Iran’s diplomatic negotiating delegation had formally ended for this phase. The process itself has not stopped. Technical teams will keep handling issues related to the nuclear file, frozen funds, and the situation in Lebanon.
Speaking on site on June 21, Vance said, “We have opened the Strait of Hormuz and expect additional steps,” adding that more progress was expected within hours. By early June 22, Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, citing sources, reported that although the Iranian delegation had returned to its quarters, contacts with the United States were still continuing through intermediaries.
Pezeshkian also said Iran would not give up its right to uranium enrichment, while insisting it “will not build an atomic bomb.” Ghalibaf, responding to Trump’s warning on June 21, said Iran did not take US threats seriously and that its armed forces were fully prepared.