US-Iran peace talks open in Switzerland with Pakistan and Qatar mediating

Shehbaz Sharif joined US, Iranian and Qatari leaders for technical peace talks in Burgenstock. The meeting seeks to turn last week's MoU into progress on Iran's nuclear issue, sanctions and regional tensions.

In Short

• Pakistan and Qatar joined the United States and Iran as mediators
• Sharif separately met J D Vance and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
• Talks follow a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Trump and Pezeshkian

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he hoped for "very productive results" as discussions on the technical aspects of the US-Iran peace agreement began in the Swiss mountain resort of Burgenstock on Sunday. The quadrilateral talks, being termed the Lake Lucerne Summit, also included top leaders from Qatar.

The United States and Iran are the main sides in the negotiations, while Pakistan and Qatar are acting as mediators. Before the talks began in the evening, Sharif said he expected the discussions to produce progress and said he hoped the participants would return home with an agreement that would promote peace, progress and prosperity.

Earlier in the day, Sharif separately met negotiators from the US and Iran on the sidelines of the talks. US Vice President J D Vance led the American side, while Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf led the Iranian delegation. Photographs posted on X by Sharif's office showed him shaking hands with them in separate meetings.

Before the quadrilateral talks began, Sharif addressed the press in the presence of Vance and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. He praised US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders. He also praised Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, who accompanied him to Switzerland and was seen with him during the meetings with the delegations from Washington and Tehran.

"I think here we are going to have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come," Sharif said. He further said, "Hopefully when we go back to our homes, we'll have some wonderful paper in our hand which will promote peace, progress and prosperity around the globe."

The discussions in Switzerland are focused on implementing key provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding signed last week by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Sharif signing as a guarantor. The MoU marked the start of a 60-day negotiation window to restore peace in West Asia, with focus on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions imposed on it and Israel's offensive in Lebanon. The technical talks were to begin on Friday, but were delayed mainly because of fresh rounds of firing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Burgenstock meeting has now brought the four sides together to take forward those negotiations.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends