Mediators Qatar and Pakistan said discussions were conducted in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and produced initial agreements designed to lower the risk of military incidents in Lebanon and the Gulf.

The two countries announced the creation of a technical framework for continued negotiations, including a direct contact mechanism intended to prevent misunderstandings and incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime trade routes.

They also confirmed the establishment of a “de-confliction cell” involving the relevant parties and Lebanese authorities, aimed at preventing a resumption of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

The talks mark the first formal meeting between American and Iranian officials since the signing of a memorandum of understanding intended to end months of regional conflict. The agreement included provisions calling for an end to fighting in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in a prolonged confrontation that intensified following the broader Iran-Israel conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed the outcome, describing the negotiations as a significant step toward stabilizing Lebanon and reducing regional tensions.

In a statement posted on social media, Araghchi said progress had also been made on economic issues, including the easing of restrictions on Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and plans for reconstruction and development initiatives.

The negotiations faced early uncertainty after Iran’s delegation briefly suspended participation following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump threatening renewed military action against Tehran over its support for Hezbollah. Talks later resumed and concluded with the announcement of the new coordination mechanisms.

Separately, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a joint call with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. According to the Lebanese presidency, the leaders discussed measures to reinforce the ceasefire in Lebanon, halt further Israeli military escalation and advance the proposed de-confliction framework.

Israel also signaled conditional support for maintaining the ceasefire. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would respect the truce provided Hezbollah did not violate its terms.

Speaking in a call with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Saar said Israel had no territorial ambitions in Lebanon but would maintain its security zone to prevent future attacks by Hezbollah.

He added that dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure would serve the interests of both Israel and Lebanon, while accusing Iran of exercising influence over Lebanon through the armed group.

The latest diplomatic efforts come as international mediators seek to transform a fragile cessation of hostilities into a more durable arrangement, with Lebanon emerging as a key test of broader efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The meeting at the Swiss resort of Buergenstock brought together U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Iranian officials and mediators from Qatar and Pakistan in the first diplomatic engagement since Washington and Tehran agreed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending months of regional conflict.

The accord, reached last week, calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been fighting Hezbollah since March. Iran has accused Washington of failing to ensure implementation of those commitments and said substantive negotiations would not proceed until conditions on the ground improve.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump said in a statement, signaling the possibility of renewed military escalation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Iranian officials responded by narrowing the scope of Sunday’s discussions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the talks would focus only on implementation of the memorandum rather than broader issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that commitments related to Lebanon had not been fulfilled.

Baghaei said Tehran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz again stemmed from continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon despite a ceasefire announced on Friday. Iran’s Fars news agency cited a military source as saying no new permits were being issued for ships seeking to transit the strategic waterway.

The move has renewed concerns over global energy supplies. The strait serves as one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and its earlier closure during the conflict caused major disruptions to international energy markets.

U.S. officials questioned Iran’s assertion that the waterway had been fully closed. However, shipping data indicated a sharp decline in vessel movements following Tehran’s announcement, with significantly fewer tankers reported transiting the passage compared with recent days.

At the talks, Vance sought to project optimism, saying progress had been made toward reducing violence in Lebanon despite continuing instability.

“These things are always a little bit messy,” he told reporters.

Earlier on Sunday, Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on the sidelines of the negotiations. The meeting featured cordial exchanges among the participants as diplomatic efforts continued to secure broader regional stability.

Under the memorandum, Washington and Tehran are expected to hold 60 days of negotiations covering Iran’s nuclear activities, sanctions relief and economic measures. Iran has said initial economic benefits, including sanctions waivers and access to frozen assets, must be delivered before more substantive commitments can be discussed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed confidence that negotiations could support economic recovery and said initial progress had already enabled Tehran to regain access to part of its financial resources.

Despite diplomatic engagement, conditions in Lebanon remain fragile. Lebanese authorities reported 20 deaths from Israeli strikes on Saturday, while military teams continued clearing unexploded ordnance from southern towns. Reuters journalists observed residents returning to parts of southern Lebanon on Sunday, suggesting a tentative improvement in security conditions despite the absence of a durable ceasefire.

The negotiations represent the most significant direct diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran since the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year, but sharp disagreements over Lebanon and maritime access underscore the challenges facing efforts to secure a lasting regional settlement.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had adopted a policy under which the Israel Defense Forces would stay in the areas to protect Israeli borders and communities.Katz said the deployment was intended to counter threats from armed groups and warned Iran that Israel would respond with full force if attacked in connection with the conflict in Lebanon.

The statement came after Washington and Tehran announced a deal calling for an end to military operations, including fighting linked to Lebanon.Lebanon has urged displaced residents not to return immediately, saying details of the agreement remain unclear and security conditions are still uncertain.

The Israeli government has maintained that its forces must continue operating in strategic areas, while regional actors continue diplomatic efforts following months of escalating conflict.

The developments come as the Middle East faces ongoing security tensions involving Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

The dispute intensified after two ultra-Orthodox factions withdrew support from Netanyahu’s coalition earlier this month, leaving the government without a parliamentary majority and triggering an initial vote on Wednesday to dissolve the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

The political crisis centers on efforts to pass legislation preserving military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox seminary students, a decades-old arrangement that has become increasingly unpopular after more than two years of regional conflict and extended reserve duty for many Israelis.

Netanyahu is attempting to advance a bill that would formalize the exemptions and satisfy his religious coalition partners, but opposition within his own bloc has cast doubt over its chances of passage.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said she was among several coalition lawmakers unwilling to support the legislation, describing demands by ultra-Orthodox parties as unfair during wartime.
“The ultra-Orthodox are trying to extort us. It’s immoral. It’s not fair,” Haskel said after Wednesday’s parliamentary vote, where she wore her military uniform to underscore her opposition.

Analysts say Netanyahu’s dependence on ultra-Orthodox parties, which currently hold 18 seats in the 120-member Knesset, has long helped him maintain political stability despite corruption allegations, repeated elections and regional conflicts.

“He made a promise to his most loyal allies in the coalition, and he could not deliver,” said Shmuel Rosner, referring to Netanyahu’s pledge to protect the exemptions system.

Ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Yitzhak Pindrus said his faction would not return to the coalition without legislation guaranteeing continued exemptions.
“We need the draft bill,” Pindrus said.

The political standoff reflects broader tensions within Israeli society over military service obligations. Most Jewish Israeli men are required to complete nearly three years of mandatory military service followed by reserve duty, while women generally serve two years.
Roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach conscription age annually, but fewer than 10% enlist, according to Israeli parliamentary data.

The issue has become more politically sensitive as Israel maintains military operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria while also confronting heightened tensions with Iran, stretching reserve forces and intensifying public frustration over unequal service burdens.

Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the longstanding exemptions lacked legal basis, but successive governments delayed implementing changes.

Researchers say Netanyahu now faces a narrowing political path: preserving ties with ultra-Orthodox parties risks alienating broader conservative voters frustrated by military disparities, while abandoning the exemptions could permanently fracture his governing alliance.

Political observers say the coalition’s collapse could move elections forward from October to September, potentially ending one of the most durable governing partnerships in Israeli politics.

The warning came as Israeli authorities issued new displacement orders for 16 areas south of the Litani River, instructing residents to move toward the nearby city of Saida, adding further pressure on already strained communities and humanitarian operations.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said civilians continued to bear the brunt of the hostilities, with women and children disproportionately affected by displacement, overcrowded shelters and worsening living conditions.

He said reports indicated rising levels of psychological distress, family separation and increased risks of gender-based violence, particularly in temporary shelters where access to protection services remains limited.

“We and our partners are responding to the mounting needs where access allows,” Dujarric told reporters, while noting that humanitarian operations remain constrained by insecurity and restricted access in several affected areas.

A new joint analysis by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme found that a sharp escalation in violence had reversed earlier food-security improvements and pushed Lebanon back into a crisis phase.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification assessment, around 1.24 million people nearly one in four of those surveyed — are projected to face IPC Phase 3, or crisis-level, food insecurity or worse during the April-to-August period.

At that level, households are typically forced to adopt severe coping strategies such as skipping meals, reducing food quality or selling essential assets to afford basic supplies.

Lebanon has been grappling with overlapping economic, political and security crises for years, with inflation, currency collapse and weakened state institutions already undermining access to food and public services before the latest surge in violence.

Humanitarian agencies also warned that funding shortfalls were limiting relief efforts. The Lebanon Flash Appeal has received just over $117 million so far, only 38% of the $308 million required to meet urgent needs, according to U.N. figures.

Dujarric said that without immediate additional funding and improved humanitarian access, conditions were likely to deteriorate further, leaving more families exposed to hunger, displacement and prolonged hardship.

The attack targeted a unit serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as it was traveling to an outpost isolated by ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, according to UN officials.

In a statement, Security Council members denounced the assault “in the strongest terms” and reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL operations in the region. The council did not assign responsibility, though France has blamed Hezbollah for the attack.

The incident occurred on Saturday amid heightened tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, where clashes have intensified in recent weeks. UNIFIL peacekeepers are mandated to monitor hostilities and support stability in southern Lebanon.

French authorities have not released further operational details about the ambush, while the United Nations has called for accountability and the protection of peacekeeping personnel under international law.

The attack underscores growing risks faced by UN forces operating in volatile regions conflict zones, as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation in Lebanon.

In a telephone conversation, Merz also voiced “grave concern” over developments in the Palestinian territories and stressed that there must be no “de facto partial annexation” of the West Bank, according to a government spokesperson.

The call comes amid escalating tensions following the conflict launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States against Iran, which has increasingly threatened to expand into a broader regional war. German officials said Merz reiterated Berlin’s support for diplomatic efforts aimed at securing an understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Merz, who had initially backed the U.S.-Israeli military action, has shifted his stance as economic risks and security concerns intensify, including Iranian retaliatory strikes and disruptions to global energy flows.

He also indicated that Germany could contribute to ensuring maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, but only after hostilities cease and necessary conditions are in place.Shipping through the strait, which previously accounted for roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies, has been significantly disrupted amid Iranian threats targeting commercial vessels.

The situation has been further complicated by a partial naval blockade declared by U.S. President Donald Trump following stalled negotiations with Iran.

Speaking at St. Peter’s Square after his Regina Coeli prayer, the pontiff said he felt “closer than ever” to Lebanon amid escalating violence, describing a moral obligation under international law to shield civilians from the effects of war.“

The principle of humanity entails the moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the atrocious effects of war,” he said, addressing crowds gathered at the Vatican.

Lebanon has been drawn into the regional conflict since last month, as Israel intensified strikes against Hezbollah, with Lebanese authorities reporting more than 2,000 people killed.

Without naming specific countries, the pope urged warring sides to seek a peaceful resolution, reiterating calls for dialogue and mediation over continued military escalation.

His remarks followed the failure of recent talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan to reach an agreement aimed at ending the broader conflict.

On Saturday, the pope delivered one of his strongest appeals yet against the war, calling on leaders to halt hostilities and return to negotiations. “Stop! It is time for peace!” he said, criticizing what he described as a growing reliance on rearmament and displays of power.

The 70-year-old pontiff, who leads the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, has repeatedly called for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

He is scheduled to travel to Algeria on Monday for an 11-day visit focused on interfaith dialogue and strengthening ties with the Islamic world.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said it was “imperative” that both parties maintain their ceasefire commitments, adding that Islamabad would continue facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran following the inconclusive talks.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said the absence of a deal was “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States,” reiterating Washington’s demand for a firm commitment from Tehran not to pursue nuclear weapons capability.

He said the United States had made its “red lines” clear, including preventing Iran from acquiring both nuclear weapons and the means to rapidly develop them.

Iranian officials rejected the U.S. position, with state-linked Tasnim news agency reporting that “excessive” American demands had hindered progress. Tehran signaled that discussions would continue, with technical teams expected to exchange documents in follow-up engagements.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the U.S. had failed to build trust during the talks despite what he described as “forward-looking” proposals from the Iranian side. He emphasized longstanding skepticism rooted in past negotiations, saying Washington must demonstrate credibility before progress can be made.

Iran’s foreign ministry also downplayed the outcome, stating that no agreement had been expected in a single session and expressing confidence that diplomatic contacts would continue with Pakistan and other regional actors.

Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attributed the breakdown to what he called U.S. attempts to “dictate” terms, warning that negotiations with Iran would not succeed under unilateral conditions.

The Islamabad meeting marked the highest-level direct engagement between the United States and Iran in more than a decade and the most senior talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The discussions were aimed at halting a conflict that began over six weeks ago and has driven up global oil prices while threatening key maritime routes.Central to the negotiations was the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of global energy supplies.

The U.S. military said it was preparing to ensure safe navigation through the waterway, including mine-clearing operations, while Iranian state media denied any U.S. naval transit in the area.

Tehran has demanded control over the strait, war reparations, and broader ceasefire arrangements extending to regional theaters including Lebanon. U.S. officials have focused on securing freedom of navigation and curbing Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities.

The talks took place under tight security in Islamabad, where thousands of paramilitary forces were deployed. Pakistani officials described fluctuating tensions during the discussions, with “mood swings” and intermittent progress reported by sources familiar with the negotiations.

The Iranian delegation, which arrived dressed in black to mourn those killed in the conflict, also raised concerns about a U.S. airstrike on a school near a military compound, an incident the Pentagon has said is under investigation.

Despite the impasse, analysts noted the seniority and size of the Iranian delegation as an indication of Tehran’s willingness to engage, even as deep mistrust continues to define the diplomatic landscape.

The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance and including special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, was en route to the Pakistani capital after a stop in Paris. The Iranian side, headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived on Friday.

Qalibaf said Iran did not trust the United States based on past negotiations and warned that talks would not proceed unless Washington fulfilled earlier commitments, including unblocking Iranian assets and securing a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Iranian officials have linked progress in the talks to developments in the parallel conflict involving Hezbollah, a stance rejected by Washington and its allies.U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that Iran “has no cards,” adding that Tehran’s leverage was limited to disrupting international waterways.

Vice President Vance, speaking en route, expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations but warned that the U.S. would respond firmly if it perceived bad-faith tactics.The talks come amid a fragile ceasefire announced earlier this week following weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory actions by Tehran.

While the ceasefire has paused direct attacks, it has not resolved Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which continues to disrupt global energy flows.Pakistan imposed extensive security measures in Islamabad ahead of the negotiations, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing the meeting as “make-or-break.” Thousands of security personnel were deployed across the city.

Parallel tensions persist in Lebanon, where Israeli operations against Hezbollah have continued despite diplomatic efforts. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called for a ceasefire as a condition for broader negotiations, while Israeli officials have signaled that upcoming talks with Lebanese representatives in Washington would proceed without linking them to a truce.

Iran has also pushed for broader concessions, including the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its authority over transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal that would significantly alter regional power dynamics. While Iranian vessels were reported to be moving freely through the strait, shipping by other nations remains constrained.

The disruption to energy supplies has contributed to inflationary pressures and slowed global economic activity, with analysts warning that the impact could persist even if negotiations lead to a reopening of the route.Iran’s leadership has maintained a firm stance ahead of the talks.

Mojtaba Khamenei said Tehran would seek compensation for wartime damage and hold those responsible accountable.Despite U.S. claims of degrading Iran’s military capabilities, Tehran retains missile and drone capacity and a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium, underscoring the challenges facing negotiators in reaching a comprehensive agreement.