Delegations gather in Switzerland for US-Iran technical talks with Pakistan, Qatar

BERN: Delegations from the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar arrived at Switzerland’s Burgenstock on Sunday for technical-level talks focused on working through the details of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Tehran and Washington to end the conflict that has affected much of the Middle East.

The discussions are expected to cover several key issues, including lifting the US blockade on Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the sale of Iranian oil.

Bilateral meetings before wider talks

Each side was due to hold bilateral meetings before quadrilateral talks involving mediators Pakistan and Qatar, scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Images carried with the report showed senior members of the Iranian delegation arriving in Switzerland, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Separate photographs showed Araqchi taking part in bilateral discussions with Swiss Federal Council member Ignazio Cassis at the Burgenstock resort near Lucerne.

Senior Pakistani and US officials arrive

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also arrived at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne. Photographs from the venue showed him meeting US Vice President JD Vance.

Other images showed Vance alongside US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. One photograph also showed Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir attending a meeting with the US and Pakistani sides.

The report further showed heightened security around the venue, with a police vehicle stationed near a nearby hamlet and a Swiss Army helicopter flying over the resort area. Flags of Switzerland, the United States, Qatar, Pakistan and the Swiss canton of Nidwalden were also visible at the site ahead of the talks.