Meeting underway between Iranian, Qatari delegation in Switzerland ahead of US-Iran talks
Burgenstock, June 21
A meeting between the Iranian negotiating team and Qatari mediators is currently underway in Burgenstock, the Iranian government said on Sunday.
The Tehran further informed that separate consultations will be held with the Pakistani side as part of ongoing efforts to advance implementation of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
"A meeting between the Iranian negotiating team and Qatari mediators is currently underway. Separate consultations with the Pakistani side are also scheduled as part of ongoing efforts to advance implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum," Iran government said in a post on X.
According to the Iranian government, Tehran and Washington are set to participate in quadrilateral talks in the afternoon with representatives of Qatar and Pakistan.
In a post on X, the Iran government said, "A four-party meeting involving Iran, the United States, Qatar and Pakistan will follow. Baghaei said the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum, signed on June 18, will not be re-signed; discussions will focus on implementation and follow-up mechanisms."
Iran further said that the Iranian delegation arrived in Switzerland late last night and that the Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi held a bilateral meeting with his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis
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. The meeting reflected continued diplomatic consultations on bilateral and regional issues.
Talks between Iran and the US are set to begin on Sunday as both parties have arrived in Swiss mountain resort of Burgenstock.
Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post 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."
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, a military source told Iranian media outlet, the Fars News Agency. The IRGC Navy is also not issuing any permits for vessel passage until further notice.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Why is Pakistan mediating? They have their own issues with Iran over border clashes. Seems like a strange choice. Anyway, the closure of Hormuz is worrying - oil prices will shoot up and hit our common man hard. Petrol already costs too much in Mumbai!
Good to see diplomatic channels being used instead of military posturing. The 14-point MoU seems promising. But I'm skeptical about Pakistan's role - they always have their own agenda in the Gulf. India should offer itself as a neutral mediator given our strong ties with both Iran and the West.
As someone who follows Middle East politics, this is a significant step. The Strait of Hormuz closure is a big deal - it affects global oil supply, not just regional stability. I just hope Vice President Vance's team doesn't try to impose unrealistic demands like last time.
Switzerland is becoming the go-to place for these high-stakes talks! Remember the US-Iran nuclear deal negotiations? Yaar, but Pakistan being there is worrying - they'll leak everything to their Chinese friends. India should be part of this conversation given our stakes in Chabahar port and energy security.
Honestly, these talks are just for show. Iran and US have been at loggerheads for decades - a one-day meeting in a mountain resort won't solve anything. Meanwhile, our oil imports get disrupted and common people pay the price. But kudos to Qatar for trying to mediate.
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