Araghchi Outlines Two-Stage Peace Process and 'Islamabad Accord' Details to Foreign Diplomats in Tehran

Tehran - BORNA - The briefing took place on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2026, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with several deputy foreign ministers and director-generals in attendance. The core focus of the meeting centered on current Iranian foreign policy dynamics and the recently finalized memorandum of understanding aimed at terminating the conflict.

Addressing the gathered diplomatic corps, Araghchi explained the operational structure of the negotiations and the strategic inclusion of the Lebanese front. He noted that due to the hurdles encountered in reaching a singular accord following the criminal aggression against Iran by the United States and the Zionist regime, Tehran ultimately decided to divide the negotiation process into two distinct phases.

The Iranian Foreign Minister clarified that in the first stage, the sides focused negotiations on securing an immediate cessation of hostilities, resolving the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, completely lifting the naval blockade, and addressing initial reconstruction frameworks. He noted that this phase culminated in the recent memorandum of understanding, adding that negotiations will actively continue for a 60-day period to secure a final, comprehensive agreement. Araghchi emphasized that this subsequent final accord will address nuclear issues, the lifting of economic sanctions, and the ultimate conclusions.

Reflecting on the timeline of the diplomatic efforts, Araghchi stated that following three months of intensive negotiations that began at the onset of the war and continued through June 14, Iran successfully finalized this initial phase. He pointed out that the most critical component of this stage is the declaration of the end of the war.

The Foreign Minister went on to say that following the consensus reached on Monday morning, Tehran time, the termination of the war was effectively declared. However, he specified that the official, formal implementation of this memorandum of understanding will commence this coming Friday. Nevertheless, Araghchi affirmed that the immediate and permanent cessation of the war on all fronts is in effect, specifically extending to Lebanon this Friday.

Araghchi explicitly emphasized the unified nature of the regional fronts and the strict parameters Iran places on the agreement's validity. He explained that due to the direct geopolitical linkages that developed between the Israeli regime's aggression in southern Lebanon and the wider conflict involving Iran, these two fronts became intrinsically connected. He reiterated that from day one, the Islamic Republic of Iran maintained that ending the war in Lebanon was an absolute prerequisite to ending the war with Iran.

The top diplomat continued his remarks by saying that when the sides arrived at the ceasefire framework, they declared a cessation of hostilities across all fronts, with explicit emphasis on Lebanon. He noted that now that a formal termination of the war has been reached, it comprehensively encompasses Lebanon as well.

In concluding his briefing to the international emissaries, Araghchi clearly defined the stakeholders and the territorial conditions of the pact. He reinforced that from Iran's perspective, the two distinct sides of this memorandum of understanding comprise the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other.

Araghchi concluded that the termination of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable, core component of the complete cessation of hostilities, and that the official end of the war strictly necessitates the termination of occupation. He warned that without the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from all territories occupied during this conflict, the termination of the war cannot be considered complete. Consequently, Araghchi made it clear that any military assault by the Zionist regime against Lebanon from this moment forward, or any continuation of territorial occupation, will be treated by Iran as a direct and material violation of the memorandum of understanding.

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