The Story
The U.S.-Iran agreement is entering a new phase this week, with indirect preparatory meetings set to begin in Doha ahead of the formal signing scheduled for next Friday in Switzerland.
According to a Qatari diplomatic source, separate meetings will be held with the American and Iranian delegations to lay the technical and political groundwork for the next phase of the agreement, before the start of nuclear-related technical talks.
The meetings follow an intensive mediation push led by Qatar and Pakistan, which concluded in Tehran after nearly 17 hours of continuous negotiations and produced an understanding aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation.
Despite announcements by U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that an agreement has been reached, Tehran is still approaching the current phase with caution. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the agreement will not begin to be implemented before it is formally signed in Switzerland.
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his counterparts in Turkey, Iraq and Egypt that Israeli attacks on Lebanon must stop completely, arguing that Washington bears responsibility for implementing the framework agreement and ensuring its continuity.
What Does the Agreement Include?
The full text of the agreement has not yet been published. However, available indications suggest that it includes:
- Ending military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon.
- Reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international maritime traffic.
- Lifting the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- Launching a technical negotiation track on Iran’s nuclear program.
- Discussing sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets in return for later Iranian commitments.
What to Watch
The most important development in the coming days will be the preparatory meetings in Doha.
Will they succeed in addressing the most sensitive issues, especially uranium enrichment, sanctions, and the mechanism for implementing mutual commitments?
The political breakthrough has already happened. But the success of the agreement will be measured by whether both sides can turn it into a technical understanding that can actually be implemented in the weeks ahead.
