Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday (June 16), that Iran and the U.S. will start a new round of negotiations on Friday (June 19) in Switzerland to reach a final agreement after the official start of an interim agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (June 16) that the deal ‌to halt the conflict between the U.S. and Iran was "done" and going to a second stage, although details have yet to be made public and both countries say a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.

The interim agreement would extend a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February.

"The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war ”Araqchi said during his meeting with foreign diplomats and members of foreign missions in Iran.

Vice President, JD Vance and Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf are expected to attend Friday's formal signing in Geneva.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (JUNE 16, 2026) (WANA- No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International. No use Radio Farda, No Use Israel.)

1. IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ABBAS ARAQCHI, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTERS, MAJID TAKHT RAVANCHI, KAZEM GHARIBABADI, FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, ESMAEIL BAGHAEI AND OTHER FOREIGN MINISTRY EMPLOYEES WALKING INTO VENUE / FOREIGN DIPLOMATS AND MEMBERS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS SEATED

2. PICTURE ON THE WALL OF SUPREME LEADER, MOJTABA KHAMENEI

3. NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYED IN THE BACKGROUND, ARAQCHI AND ATTENDEES STANDING UP IN RESPECT

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“Because of the difficulties in reaching an agreement between us and the United States, stemming from the criminal aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, we ultimately decided to divide the negotiations into two phases. In the first phase, we will negotiate issues related to ending the war, the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime blockade, the release of Iran’s frozen funds, reconstruction, and other matters connected to these topics. The aim was to reach a memorandum of understanding on these issues, and then negotiations to continue for 60 days in order to achieve a final agreement. Under the final agreement, decisions will be made on nuclear-related issues and the lifting of sanctions, and we will reach a comprehensive final settlement.”

5. ARAQCHI AND ATTENDEES SEATED, IRANIAN FLAGS, PICTURES ON THE WALL OF MOJTABA KHAMENEI (right) AND SLAIN SUPREME LEADER, AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI AND ISLAMIC REPUBLIC FOUNDER, RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI (left)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“From our perspective, the two sides of this memorandum are, on one side, the United States and Israel, and on the other side, Iran and Hezbollah and and the end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war.”

7. ARAQCHI AND ATTENDEES SEATED, IRANIAN FLAGS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“In the first phase, the most important issue is the announcement of the end of the war, and based on the decision we made, from the morning of Monday, when the final agreement was reached, Monday, Tehran time, of course, the end of the war was also announced. However, the official commencement of this memorandum of understanding will be on Friday. Nevertheless, the announcement of the end of the war took place from Monday morning, and this is perhaps the most important issue contained in this memorandum. The announcement of an immediate and permanent end to the war, the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

9. ARAQCHI SPEAKING, ATTENDEES SEATED

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAQCHI, SAYING:

“The end of the war also includes the end of occupation, without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they have occupied in this war, a full end to the war has not been achieved, and any military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon from now on, as well as the continued occupation of Lebanese territories from now on, will, in our view, be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding.

11. ARAQCHI AND ATTENDEES SEATED, IRANIAN FLAGS

12. VARIOUS OF ATTENDEES