Pakistan Leaders Arrive in Switzerland for US-Iran Negotiations
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Army Chief Asim Munir and a delegation, landed in Switzerland on Sunday to participate in talks between the US and Iran aimed at restoring peace in West Asia, according to an official statement from Islamabad.
The technical-level talks are scheduled to be held at the Burgenstock Alpine ridges on Sunday. 'The Prime Minister and COAS & CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in the High-Level Talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,' the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on X.
US and Iranian Delegations Present
US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland earlier on Sunday for the talks, alongside negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. An Iranian delegation, including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with central bank and oil officials, has also reached Switzerland, according to Iranian state TV.
US President Donald Trump and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week, initiating a 60-day negotiation window to resolve sticking points for restoring peace in West Asia. Technical negotiations were originally set to begin on Friday but were delayed due to fresh rounds of firing between Israel and Lebanon.
Pakistan's Role as Mediator
Pakistan, which signed the MoU as a guarantor, along with Qatar, is participating as a mediator. On Sunday, the Pakistan Foreign Office stated that PM Sharif is expected to hold bilateral interactions with delegations from Iran, Qatar, Switzerland, and the US on the sidelines of the negotiations to reaffirm Islamabad's commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region.
'Pakistan's facilitative role underscores its principled, balanced and constructive approach throughout the crisis, including hosting earlier rounds of US-Iran talks and sustained diplomatic contacts that culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,' the Foreign Office said.
Strait of Hormuz Reopening Disputed
The signing of the MoU led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass in normal times. However, Iran stated on Saturday that it has closed the waterway again, citing an Israeli attack in Lebanon, while the US maintains that it remains open.
