Meeting in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, from 21 to 23 June 2026 under the joint mediation of Pakistan and Qatar, the American and Iranian delegations concluded their technical talks with a 60-day roadmap toward a final agreement. Four working groups were set up, covering sanctions, the nuclear file, economic reconstruction and implementation monitoring.
In concrete terms, the US Treasury issued a temporary general license authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil until 21 August 2026, alongside the release of 12 billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets. A direct communication line was established to manage the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil exports pass, and oil and gas flows there returned to pre-crisis levels. The negotiations nonetheless saw a moment of tension: the Iranian delegation temporarily suspended its participation after Donald Trump posted on social media during the talks.
These discussions take place against the backdrop of a regional conflict open since February 2026, marked by American-Israeli strikes on Iran and the temporary closure of the strait. An interim agreement reached in Islamabad on 18 June had set the legal framework for the Swiss talks. For importing economies in Asia and Africa, the reopening of Hormuz is the most immediate concern.
Several points remain disputed. Washington presents the acceptance of the return of IAEA inspectors as an achievement, which Tehran denies having addressed. Iran states that the strait will be administered under its own rules, whereas the United States describes it as free and open under bilateral guarantee. The likelihood of a final agreement within 60 days, and the real scope of the concessions, remain subject to diverging readings.
