Wars 2026 02/28 Israel-Iran War 3.0

Wars 2026 02/28 Israel-Iran War 3.0
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US temporarily lifts sanctions on Iranian oil until 21 Aug
Reuters
Washington

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Flags of US, Iran Reuters, AFP

The United States authorised Iranian oil sales on Monday, easing decades-old sanctions as it pushes toward a final peace deal with Tehran in return for commitments on nuclear inspections and free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The general license, announced by the Treasury Department, allows the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin through 21 August.

The license says Iranian oil can be imported into the U.S. when necessary to complete its sale, delivery or offloading. The U.S. has not meaningfully imported Iranian oil since Washington imposed measures after the 1979 revolution.

"In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X.

"As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil."

Under a memorandum of understanding signed last week between Washington and Tehran, the U.S. agreed to issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances and transportation.

Payment of funds to Iran may be made in U.S. dollar-denominated funds, according to the license.

Cuba, North Korea and Crimea are among those excluded from the license.

Washington first sanctioned Iran in 1979 when revolutionary students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, holding diplomats hostage. Numerous additional sanctions have been imposed since then over the nuclear program and Iran's support for groups the U.S. deems terrorist organizations.

Independent Chinese refiners have been the main buyers of sanctioned Iranian oil, taking advantage of deep discounts as others avoided such purchases. India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and Turkey were also major buyers of Iranian crude before U.S. sanctions were reimposed in 2018.

Mediators said on Monday that Washington and Tehran made "encouraging progress" at the first round of talks aimed at reaching a final peace deal. The talks began under the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days.

Oil prices had risen sharply when Tehran started blockading the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, but after the interim deal, fell to their lowest since before the war began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.​
 

Key points from the first round of Iran-US talks

AFP
Switzerland
Published: 22 Jun 2026, 10: 18

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TOPSHOT - (L to R) US Vice President JD Vance speaks next to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir during a quadrilateral meeting between the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on 21 June, 2026, as part of high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict.AFP

Iran and the United States wrapped up the first round of talks to end the Middle East war at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland on Monday, with technical talks to continue.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hailed the "major progress" achieved with the help of mediators Pakistan and Qatar, while the United States government has yet to issue a statement.

Here are the main points from the joint Qatar-Pakistan statement at the conclusion of first-round talks:

Roadmap to final deal agreed

The High Level Committee set up by Tehran and Washington to oversee the talks has "agreed upon a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days, laying the foundation for the immediate commencement of further technical talks", according to the statement.

"Technical talks will continue for the remainder of the week at the Burgenstock resort on all issues."

Lebanon 'de-confliction cell'

The United States and Iran "agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon", the joint statement read.

Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war in early March when the Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.

Fighting in Lebanon in recent days has threatened to derail the peace deal.

Iran's Araghchi wrote in an X post on Monday that the Lebanon de-confliction cell will be the "1st real test".

Hormuz 'communication line'

Tehran and Washington have set up a "communication line" to "avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz", according to the statement.

The communication line is applicable for the 60-day period outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed earlier by both sides, in which Iran vowed "best efforts" to ensure safe passage of commercial ships.

Iran said Saturday it was closing the Strait of Hormuz again over Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Some assets unfrozen

Araghchi wrote on Monday on X "oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran".

The Pakistan-Qatar joint statement does not mention any unfreezing of Iranian assets.

In the memorandum of understanding, the United States undertakes to "terminate all types of sanctions against" Iran, and to "make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets" of Iran.

The White House did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on Araghchi's statement.

Pakistan, Qatar in key roles

Pakistan and Qatar have gained international prominence as mediators in the Iran-US deal, with the two nations issuing a joint statement to mark the conclusion of the first round of talks.

"The mediating parties will continue to do their utmost to ensure that the negotiations continue to be conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of reaching a final deal," the statement said.

Araghchi in his X post gave credit to "tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation".​
 

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