On Sunday, technical consultations began in Switzerland between U.S. and Iranian delegations, with representatives of Qatar and Pakistan also taking part. The meetings are intended to lay the groundwork for a new round of talks connected with implementing the memorandum of understanding on the cessation of hostilities.
According to Pakistan’s state television, the technical sessions involving members of the four countries’ delegations may continue until Monday. Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed the arrival of all parties, including the mediators, and expressed hope for progress on the issues being discussed.
The U.S. side at these consultations is represented by Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Switzerland to take part in the opening of the dialogue, as well as special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Iranian delegation is led by the Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi; it also includes representatives from the Central Bank and the oil sector. Qatar and Pakistan act as mediators—according to information from Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the army chief of staff Asim Munir arrived to take part in high-level talks focused on implementing the memorandum.
As for the nuclear file, a Western diplomatic source told Al Jazeera that there is currently no confirmation of the participation of the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in the talks. Nevertheless, Grossi himself told Iran’s IRNA agency that he met with Switzerland’s foreign minister to discuss developments around Iran and the agency’s role. He stressed that at this decisive moment diplomacy must be given every chance to succeed. Inside the Iranian delegation, it was уточнили that the upcoming bilateral meetings with the Qatari and Pakistani negotiators will determine the format of the main round with the U.S. side.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqai confirmed that today’s consultations are part of the implementation of the memorandum with the United States and consist of morning and evening sessions. The Iranian delegation will hold separate meetings with Qatar and Pakistan in their roles as mediators, followed by a joint meeting of all participants. Baqai emphasized that implementation of the document matters more than signing it, and that Tehran insists on the five points of the memorandum—one of which is the cessation of war on all fronts. At the same time, the “Zionist regime” continues to violate its obligations, and this will be the central topic of today’s negotiations.
The Lebanon issue occupies a special place on the agenda. According to CNN, the emergency session on Lebanon will be the first topic discussed by the American and Iranian delegations. Before departing, Vice President Vance said that achieving progress on a ceasefire in Lebanon is one of the key goals of the talks. This comes amid the resumption of Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause in military operations, but confirmed that troops remain in the positions they have taken. Hezbollah, meanwhile, links the cessation of its attacks to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. Since the U.S.-Iran agreement, dozens of people have been killed in Lebanon, including 47 civilians and six Israeli servicemen.
The Pakistani side described these meetings as the first official contact between the parties after the memorandum was signed and an important step toward advancing the agreements to more mature stages. Pakistan’s interior minister said that “things are moving in the right direction,” and his Iranian counterpart expressed optimism, noting a positive atmosphere and steady progress in implementing the document’s points. Both sides are aiming for concrete results.
This consultation session is a continuation of the framework agreement between the United States and Iran reached last week. Over the course of 60 days, the parties plan to reach a final agreement on the technical aspects of Iran’s nuclear program. However, the talks are complicated by military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz: the U.S. Central Command denied statements by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that it had blocked it, stating that tankers continue to pass through the strait without hindrance.
Comments on the news
Who is Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and why is he, rather than the president, heading the Iranian delegation in talks with the U.S.? – Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is the chairman of Iran’s parliament (Majlis), a former mayor of Tehran, and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His appointment as head of the delegation instead of the president underscores that the negotiations concern issues of national security and strategic importance, and not just diplomatic routine. It is also a signal to the United States that Iran is speaking from a position of strength and unity across all branches of power.
Why did the Iranian delegation include representatives from the Central Bank and the oil sector if the talks are about a cessation of hostilities? – The inclusion of economic specialists indicates that the talks are not limited to military issues. Iran is likely seeking to discuss sanctions relief, the unfreezing of overseas assets, and the restoration of oil exports—key conditions for ending the conflict. For Iran, economic normalization is an integral part of any political settlement.
What is the significance of the Strait of Hormuz for international trade and regional security, mentioned in the report about the talks? – The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic “narrow passage” through which about 20–25% of the world’s oil tanker traffic passes. Iran’s control of the strait gives it leverage over global oil prices and the security of energy supply. Mentioning the strait in the negotiations suggests that the sides are discussing guarantees for freedom of navigation and possible de-escalation measures in the Persian Gulf area.
Why do Iranian officials use the term “Zionist regime” to refer to Israel, and what does that say about Tehran’s position? – The term “Zionist regime” reflects Iran’s official doctrine, which does not recognize the state of Israel as legitimate and rejects its ideological foundation—Zionism. This wording underscores Tehran’s fundamental hostility, its refusal to normalize relations, and its support for anti-Israel forces. It signals that for Iran Israel is not a state, but a temporary political entity, which rules out the possibility of direct dialogue.
Full version: بدء المحادثات الأمريكية الإيرانية في سويسرا بمشاركة قطرية وباكستانية