Negotiators from the US and Iran were set to engage in a second day of talks to solidify a permanent end to the war between the countries, after a first day of mediation began with a rocky start.

Background

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan hailed what they called ‘encouraging progress’ made during the talks. A senior US diplomat claimed progress on multiple fronts, including the establishment of ‘mechanisms’ to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that a ceasefire in southern Lebanon holds.

Iranian state media said talks had paused after the ‘publication of an insulting message by the US President.’ The Iranian delegation then met with Qatari mediators and left the negotiating site, state media said.

US Position

The chief negotiators for the US include JD Vance, the vice president; special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the president. Iran is represented by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The US offered no immediate comment, while Iran praised the mediators’ work. Araghchi wrote on X that the first ‘real test’ of negotiations would be whether the mechanism succeeded in halting the fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.