US and Iran Agree to Form Channel to End Conflict in Lebanon

JAKARTA - The United States and Iran have agreed to establish a "deconfliction channel" involving Lebanon, facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan, to ensure the cessation of military operations in Lebanon, mediators said after talks in Switzerland ended.

"The parties agreed to form a conflict resolution cell, between the parties, the Republic of Lebanon, and facilitated by the mediators, to ensure compliance with the cessation of military operations in Lebanon in accordance with the MoU," the mediators said in a joint statement, CNN reported (22/6).

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi then said in a social media post that the effectiveness of the effort was the first real test, welcoming the results of Iran-US negotiations facilitated by Pakistan and Qatar in Switzerland.

Switzerland hosted a meeting in an effort to end the escalation in the Middle East between Iran and the United States, with Pakistani and Qatari mediators or the Lake Lucerne Summit at the Burgenstock Resort, Sunday (21/6).

Citing CNN, the meeting focused on the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear weapons, the situation in Lebanon, and the structure of the 60-day negotiation period according to a diplomat.

The meeting was held following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which consists of 14 points and was signed by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week.

The Iranian delegation was led by the Speaker of Parliament and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Galibaf along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar is led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

During the meeting, US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran again if it could not reach an agreement.

Following President Trump's threat, Iran's delegation in Switzerland protested to the US. Although negotiations have stalled, both sides say the meeting is not over.

Later, the mediators of Qatar and Pakistan in a joint statement stated that "encouraging progress" had been made in the first round of US-Iranian talks.

Talks between the US and Iran, which have now ended, took place in a "positive and constructive atmosphere" and "encouraging progress" had been made, according to a joint statement from Pakistani and Qatari mediators.

The Israeli-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, which continues despite their recent renewal of a ceasefire agreement, is a major obstacle for the US and Iran to reach a final peace deal.

Israel's campaign in Lebanon has killed more than 4,000 people since March 2, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

The initial US-Iranian memorandum of understanding includes a ceasefire in Lebanon that would protect the militant group Hezbollah from Israeli attacks, as long as the group does not fire at Israel.

For Tehran, halting Israeli attacks on its most important allies in the region has always been a key demand in negotiations.

For Israel, not having the freedom to act to further weaken Hezbollah is a great disservice - and a serious test for its close alliance with the United States.

On the other hand, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have shown increasing impatience with Israel's attacks in Lebanon and its hostility to Iran's memorandum of understanding.