WANA (Jun 16) – Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, announced that the Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams will be headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, and J.D. Vance, Vice President of the United States. He also emphasized that the Islamabad memorandum did not go into detailed discussions regarding nuclear issues.

 

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, June 16, on the sidelines of Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s meeting with ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, and heads of foreign and international missions based in Tehran, Takht-Ravanchi provided details regarding the negotiation process and the contents of the memorandum.

 

Vance and Ghalibaf to Head Negotiating Teams

Referring to the composition of the negotiating delegations, he stated that the leadership of the Iranian and U.S. teams will be entrusted to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and J.D. Vance.

 

The Deputy Foreign Minister also addressed the venue and procedure for launching the negotiations, saying that Switzerland has been designated as the location for signing the memorandum, although the exact venue has not yet been finalized. He added that the method of signing also remains undecided, and it is still unclear whether the process will take place electronically or through another format.

 

He further explained that negotiations will begin once the signing is completed, although it remains uncertain how long the two sides will remain in Switzerland or what specific topics will be placed on the agenda. According to him, both sides have agreed that discussions will commence only after the memorandum is signed.

 

Takht-Ravanchi also commented on the possibility of extending the negotiation timeline beyond the proposed 60-day period, stating that it is too early to make judgments at this stage and that the current maximum timeframe remains 60 days.

 

If the Ceasefire in Lebanon Is Violated

Regarding provisions related to the ceasefire and regional developments, the Deputy Foreign Minister stated that the memorandum contains a specific clause emphasizing an end to war and military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon.

 

Takht-Ravanchi added that if Israel violates these commitments, a mechanism outlined within the memorandum would be activated. He noted that the United States has undertaken commitments on behalf of its partners to ensure the end of conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon, and that any breach of the ceasefire would be addressed through the agreed mechanism.

 

We Did Not Enter into Details on Nuclear Issues

Responding to questions regarding the nuclear dimension of the memorandum, Takht-Ravanchi stated that further details would be provided after the document is officially signed and takes effect.

 

He stressed that detailed discussions on nuclear matters had not taken place, although broader references were made to issues such as uranium enrichment, Iran’s nuclear stockpiles, and the country’s nuclear requirements.

 

Details of the Islamabad Memorandum

Takht-Ravanchi also referred to Foreign Minister Araghchi’s meeting with ambassadors and heads of foreign missions, saying the session provided an opportunity to explain and clarify the contents of the memorandum.

 

He said the meeting emphasized that the war had come to an end and that military conflict should no longer continue on any front. Araghchi also stressed that war and occupation in Lebanon should not continue.

 

Discussing additional provisions of the Islamabad memorandum, Takht-Ravanchi said that issues such as reconstruction efforts, compensation for damages, and plans for post-war rebuilding had been included in the document.

 

He also referred to Iran’s frozen assets, stating that it had been emphasized that these funds had been blocked unlawfully and should be made accessible to Iran.

 

The Deputy Foreign Minister added that issues related to the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the blockade were also among the memorandum’s key topics. He noted that ending the blockade had been one of Iran’s primary demands from the outset and that partial steps toward easing it had already begun prior to the signing of the agreement.