Iran and US Confirm Quadrilateral Talks in Switzerland
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Sunday that delegations from Iran and the United States will participate in quadrilateral talks in the afternoon in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with representatives of Qatar and Pakistan serving as mediators, as reported by Iran's state-run news agency IRNA.
Baghaei told IRNA about the day's schedule: "Today we have two meetings in the morning and afternoon. We are scheduled to have a one-day session. In the morning, we will have bilateral meetings with Pakistani and Qatari delegations as mediators." He added that broader discussions would follow: "In the afternoon, quadrilateral meetings will be held between delegations from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, with the presence of representatives from Qatar and Pakistan."
Diplomatic Engagements and Arrivals
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Burgenstock during the Iranian delegation's first official engagement in Switzerland, reflecting continued diplomatic consultations on bilateral and regional issues. The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X: "The US delegation, led by US Vice-President JD Vance, the Iranian delegation, led by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the mediators, Pakistan and Qatar, have arrived at the Burgenstock. Talks between the parties are set to begin today."
US Vice President JD Vance landed in Switzerland on Sunday for the talks, according to CNN, citing his office. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were already in Switzerland for the first round of talks on a potential nuclear deal. Speaking to reporters before departure, Vance said he understood the Iranian delegation had arrived and that talks could continue for "a couple of days." He stated: "I can only be there for a day or two. I think we're going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue and make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we're focused on. I'm sure the Iranians are going to have issues they'd like to discuss as well."
Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, a military source told Iranian media outlet Fars News Agency. The agency reported that the IRGC Navy is not issuing any permits for vessel passage until further notice. The agency stated that this step is the first response to a 'breach of promise', and if aggression continues, subsequent steps will be planned and taken to compel the other side to fulfill its commitments.
Context of Talks and Regional Stability
On Saturday, the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker and Chief Negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Zurich for the first round of technical talks with the US as part of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding, as reported by Iranian state media Press TV. Vance also addressed the situation in Lebanon, noting that despite Israeli strikes, "things are actually getting better there, and things are slowing down a little bit. Marco and the entire team have been actively managing what's going on in Lebanon. Despite the headlines, things are actually getting better there, and things are slowing down a little bit." He added that the broader objective of the talks is to prevent escalation and ensure regional stability.
