LUCERNE, Switzerland: Technical talks between Iran and the United States will continue throughout the week in Switzerland following the conclusion of the first round of negotiations aimed at ending the Middle East war, mediators Pakistan and Qatar announced on Monday.
“Technical talks will continue for the remainder of the week at the Burgenstock resort on all issues,” the two mediating countries said in a joint statement issued after the conclusion of the Lake Lucerne Summit.
The talks are taking place under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was brokered by Pakistan and Qatar to facilitate a broader peace process between Washington and Tehran after months of regional conflict.
The first round of negotiations concluded at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, bringing together senior representatives from Iran, the United States, Pakistan and Qatar.
Vice President JD Vance leads the US delegation, which includes Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. In contrast, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi represent Iran.
In their joint statement, Pakistan and Qatar described the summit as having taken place in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and said “encouraging progress” had been achieved.
A key outcome of the meeting was the agreement on a 60-day roadmap towards a final settlement, laying the foundation for intensive technical negotiations in the coming weeks.
The parties also agreed to establish a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight of the mediation process. Chief negotiators will report regularly to the committee and lead specialised working groups focusing on nuclear issues, sanctions, monitoring mechanisms and dispute resolution.
According to the mediators, a direct communication channel has also been established between the parties to prevent misunderstandings and incidents during the implementation phase of the memorandum, particularly to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Another significant development was the creation of a de-confliction cell involving the negotiating parties and Lebanon, facilitated by Pakistan and Qatar, to oversee compliance with commitments aimed at ending military operations in Lebanon under the memorandum.
The latest round of talks comes after months of conflict that destabilised the region, disrupted global energy markets and heightened tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States.
The 60-day roadmap is expected to guide efforts towards resolving longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security concerns.
Pakistan and Qatar said they would continue working to ensure the negotiations proceed in a constructive atmosphere with the goal of reaching a comprehensive and lasting agreement.
