GUWAHATI: The United States may allow Iran to access some of its frozen funds to purchase American agricultural products, including soybeans, corn and wheat, following recent peace talks held in Switzerland.
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Speaking after an extended round of discussions with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Monday, June 22, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the negotiations had created a "good foundation" for a possible agreement aimed at ending the conflict that began in late February. However, he clarified that a final deal has not yet been reached.
The talks, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, began on Sunday, June 21, and continued into the early hours of Monday, June 22. While discussions were at times tense, both sides reportedly made progress on several issues.
Vance said a proposal developed by U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner and Qatari officials could allow Iran to use unfrozen funds to buy American food products. Qatar would oversee the process to ensure the money is used for the benefit of the Iranian people.
In a joint statement, Pakistan and Qatar described the talks as encouraging and confirmed that technical-level negotiations would continue throughout the week. According to a senior U.S. diplomat, progress was also made on measures to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for global energy shipments and maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The negotiations briefly faced uncertainty after comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump angered Iranian officials. However, discussions ultimately continued despite reports that the Iranian delegation considered leaving.
If a final agreement is reached, it could help preserve the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, and allow Iran limited access to frozen funds for food imports. No other specific outcomes of a peace deal were mentioned during the talks.
