High-level talks are under way between the US and Iran in Switzerland with leaders from Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators.
This comes after Pakistan announced yesterday that talks between the United States and Iran, which were postponed on Friday, will begin in Switzerland today, Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Today’s meeting starts technical-level negotiations towards a final US-Iran deal. That is after both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier in the week declaring a permanent end to “military operations on all fronts,” including in Lebanon. The MoU stipulates that a final deal should be reached within 60 days, “extendable with mutual consent.”
Iran’s delegation, led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said that its main goal is to ensure all parties fully implement the interim deal to end the war.
Iran’s delegation is very high profile. Aside Ghalibaf and Araghchi, there is Ali Bakri, who in 2021 was the chief negotiator of Iran during the era of late President Ebrahim Raisi. Abdolnaser Hemmati who is the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran is also part of the delegation, likewise the Deputy Minister of Oil, Hamid Boord.
U.S Vice President JD Vance touched down in Switzerland at dawn. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff were in tow. Vance said as he took off for Switzerland that the two key issues are the nuclear issue and bringing peace to Lebanon. Meanwhile, it is said that the Trump administration’s main goal is to make sure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.
Yesterday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it was re-imposing restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz over Israeli “crimes” in Lebanon and what it called a US violation of commitments to establish a ceasefire. It warned ship crews not to approach the strategic waterway, saying their security would be at risk if they do.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, addressed the media in the meeting room at the venue of the US-Iran talks in Switzerland with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, on his left and US Vice President JD Vance on his right.
Sharif thanked Trump for his “visionary and very dynamic leadership which resulted in this meeting here.” “I think here we are going to have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come,” Sharif said.
On his part, Vance has said at a live press conference from the talks in Switzerland that US President Donald Trump “empowered us to find a diplomatic solution to a host of issues.” “The question is whether we can change relations in the Middle East permanently,” Vance said.
Despite a meeting to find peace, Vance laid blame on Iran, calling it a “driver of regional instability” but he added that there was “great” progress made over the last few hours. He said that the two countries now see a “future together where everyone can work together to promote peace and prosperity.” He said that Trump has asked them to “turn over a new leaf” to transform our relationship with the people of Iran.
He added that great progress has been seen over the last couple of days in ensuring a ceasefire in Lebanon holds, stating that Trump is committed to seeing a full regional ceasefire. He noted that these kinds of ceasefires are always “a little bit messy.”
“The technical negotiations may not solve every disagreement, but they will allow us to sit together as teams for the first time in history.”
JD Vance
Qatar Lauds US, Iranian delegations’ Efforts Towards Peace In The Middle East
Speaking alongside US Vice President Vance and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani thanked both the US and Iranian delegations for their efforts to make peace in the Middle East.
“I think that every one of you has highlighted how important and historic this is, not only for the security of the region but also for the security of the world and for the global economy.
“I would like to thank all of you for your leadership and determination that put us in this room. This is not really the main celebration; this is just the beginning, and I wish everyone all the best. Qatar will stay dedicated to this partnership to support this mediation until the end – until we reach a solution. We will always be partner in bringing more peace, prosperity, and hopefully, better future for our region.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
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