Iran and the United States are set to begin another round of negotiations immediately after their preliminary agreement is signed on Friday in Switzerland, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday, according to the Tasnim news agency.
These talks - intended to bring a lasting end to the war launched by the US and Israel at the end of February - should be concluded within 60 days, Araghchi said. The framework agreement struck between Tehran and Washington on Sunday reportedly extends the ceasefire in the war by 60 days for this purpose.
High-ranking representatives from Iran and the US are scheduled to meet in person in Geneva on Friday to formally sign the agreement, which the US says has already been signed digitally.
Tasnim cited Araghchi as saying the initial focus had been on ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, releasing frozen Iranian assets and reconstruction.
US Vice President JD Vance had recently spoken about possible sanctions relief. A $300 billion reconstruction fund is reportedly also being discussed.
'Very general document'
Many observers see the framework agreement as an interim step in a diplomatic process that still leaves major challenges unresolved.
Vance told CNN that the preliminary agreement covers "about a page and half," describing it as a "very general document." He said a number of issues need to be worked out during the "technical negotiation phase."
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Vance would travel to Switzerland for the formal signing of the agreement.
A key condition for Iran in any agreement with the US was an end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Araghchi stressed that an end to the war would also entail an end to the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory. He said Iran would consider any new Israeli attacks on Lebanon or continued occupation of territory as a violation of the framework agreement.
Israeli has vowed that its forces will remain in the "security zone" in south Lebanon that it now controls, in order to protect its population from further attacks.
Questions remain on nuclear issue
The 60-day deadline is considered tight for negotiating a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. The 2015 nuclear deal concluded in Vienna came after nearly two years of talks.
Iran will allow international nuclear inspectors back into the country as part of a framework agreement with the United States, Vance said in a separate interview on Monday.
"Yes, absolutely," Vance told NBC News when asked whether inspectors would return, adding that one of the key elements of the deal was cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the US and Iran to dismantle Tehran's highly enriched uranium stockpile.
He said this was "spelled out very clearly" in the memorandum of understanding.
