BÜRGENSTOCK, Switzerland: Technical-level talks between the United States and Iran began in Switzerland on Sunday under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators to advance a comprehensive and permanent agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced the start of the negotiations and said it hoped the meetings would lead to “the conclusion of a comprehensive and permanent agreement addressing all aspects covered in the Memorandum of Understanding”.
براہِ راست: برگن سٹاک میں ہونے والے تکنیکی سطح کے امریکہ-ایران مزاکرات کی افتتاحی تقریب https://t.co/rOdiSCLcly
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) June 21, 2026
PM Sharif says this is important opportunity for global peace
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that talks became possible because of the prudent leadership of US President Donald Trump.
Prime Minister Sharif said this was an important opportunity for global peace. He also said Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had played an important role in the talks.
“We can work together to establish unity in the world,” Prime Minister Sharif said.
The Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, also paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir.
Quadripartite negotiations involving Iran, the US, Pakistan, and Qatar have commenced at the Bürgenstock Hotel in Switzerland, with the focus being on following up on the implementation of commitments set forth in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. pic.twitter.com/HBngW7kDY6
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) June 21, 2026
Vance appreciates PM Sharif, Field Marshal Munir
Addressing the media in Switzerland, JD Vance has expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling him a “dear friend of the president’s, dear friend of mine”.
“His very careful and skilled negotiations got us to this point,” Vance said of the premier.
He also appreciated Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying he had joked since his reception in Islamabad earlier this year that “I have two very, very important people in my life: an Indian and a Pakistani. The Indian is my wife, and the Pakistani is Field Marshal Munir.”
“I’ve probably talked to Field Marshal Munir more than I’ve talked to anybody else over the last three months,” he added. “He is of course a great military leader but I think he’s shown himself to be a great diplomat.”
Vance says significant progress made in recent hours
JD Vance said that significant progress has been made over the past few hours, while stressing the need for positive dialogue on key issues. He also said that he expects additional progress in the coming hours.
Speaking on recent developments, Vance praised the roles played by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, describing their contributions as commendable.
He also described Field Marshal Munir as an excellent military commander.
Vance said Pakistan’s role had been appreciated around the world and expressed a desire to build on the current momentum in the future.
“We’ve made great progress in last few hours […] we’ve found great partners in Pakistan, Qatar.”
The US vice president said Washington wanted Iran to play a positive role in efforts for peace, while adding that peace in the Middle East remained a priority.
He also voiced concern over the situation in Lebanon and said US President Donald Trump was working to reduce tensions in the country.
Referring to Iran, Vance said the country had been a source of regional instability, adding that positive discussions were needed on the issues at hand.
Vance said President Trump has asked to turn over “a new leaf” to transform the US relationship with Iran and that the technical talks would allow for both sides to sit together and work to resolve issues.
Qatar PM praises US, Iran teams for Middle East peace efforts
Speaking alongside Vance and PM 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, as well as Pakistan’s leadership in initiating the mediation process.
“I think that every one of you has highlighted how important and historic this is, not only on the security of the region but also for the security of the world and for the global economy,” he said.
“I would like to thank all of you for your leadership and determination that put us in this room … this is just the beginning and I wish everyone all the best.”
He added that Qatar would support the mediation process “until the end – until we reach a solution.”
Negotiations for permanent end to conflict
Qatar’s foreign ministry said specialised technical and expert groups had been formed to negotiate the terms of a final agreement, while follow-up groups would oversee implementation of the MoU and monitor progress.
The ministry added that Qatar would continue to work with Pakistan and “all concerned parties to create a positive environment that enables the negotiations to achieve their objectives, based on its firm belief that dialogue and diplomacy represent the optimal path for addressing conflicts and resolving disputes”.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that delegations from Iran, the United States, Pakistan and Qatar were holding negotiations in Switzerland on a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s frozen assets.
A day earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced that technical-level discussions between the United States and Iran would be held in Bürgenstock on Sunday.
“Representatives of the United States and Iran, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, will participate in the discussions,” the Foreign Office said in a statement, adding that Islamabad would continue to facilitate the process in its role as mediator.
Pakistani mediators hold meetings with US and Iranian negotiators
Ahead of the talks, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met the Iranian delegation in Bürgenstock.
The Iranian side was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and COAS & CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir meeting with the Iranian delegation led by Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at US-Iran technical level talks as a follow-up of Islamabad MoU… pic.twitter.com/2gbPTIMXfg
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) June 21, 2026
Officials said the meeting reflected Pakistan’s continued commitment to constructive dialogue, regional stability and diplomatic engagement at a critical stage in the negotiations.
US Vice President JD Vance also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role ahead of the talks.
Ahead of talks, Vance held a brief meeting with Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Munir on the sidelines of the gathering.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, alongside Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, meets U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on the sidelines of the High-Level Talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on the implementation of the Islamabad… pic.twitter.com/hygOlauAo6
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) June 21, 2026
Following the meeting, Pakistani television questioned the US Vice President about Islamabad’s mediatory role in the Iran-US engagement.
In response, Vance offered a brief but notable endorsement, saying, “very good, we love Pakistan,” while giving a thumbs-up on camera, a remark that quickly gained attention across diplomatic and media circles.
Adil Shahzeb @adilshahzeb head of Pakistan TV @PakTVGlobal speaks to @JDVance about Pakistan’s role in the peace process
Exclusive footage pic.twitter.com/VjyNqhTsny
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) June 21, 2026
Officials and mediators from Qatar were also present, underscoring the broader regional effort to sustain momentum in the dialogue process.
Qatar praises Pakistan’s mediation
Meanwhile, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role as a mediator and commended its close cooperation in supporting the negotiations.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, Al-Ansari also welcomed the commitment of both the United States and Iran to diplomatic solutions and thanked Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other countries for helping create favourable conditions for the talks.
He reiterated Qatar’s support for Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a final agreement that would promote sustainable peace, security, stability and prosperity across the region.
The high-level US-Iran talks are taking place days after the United States and Iran electronically signed the Islamabad MoU aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump announced the signing on June 15, saying the agreement included provisions on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later signed the Islamabad MoU as mediator, formally sealing the deal.
Pezeshkian says Islamabad MoU benefits Iranian people
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States are “largely in the interests of the Iranian people”, adding that negotiations between the two sides would help Iran access its financial resources and decide how they are used.
Speaking at a seminar on monetary and banking policies in Tehran, Pezeshkian said Iran had exported more than 16 million barrels of oil in recent days and described the achievements of the talks as “very clear”.
“We will be able to access our own resources and make our own decisions regarding them,” he said.
President @drpezeshkian : Tehran-Washington understanding largely serves interests of Iranian peoplehttps://t.co/sebAQguTUQ pic.twitter.com/egs82tbxVX
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) June 21, 2026
Pezeshkian expressed hope that the $6 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar would be unfrozen as negotiations progress, adding that Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati was participating in the Switzerland talks to discuss how the funds should be utilised.
Referring to Washington’s position on Iran’s nuclear programme, Pezeshkian reiterated that the Islamic Republic would not seek to develop nuclear weapons, saying the stance was consistent with the country’s long-standing policy and religious decree against atomic arms.
He also said Israel was unhappy with the ongoing negotiations and accused it of seeking to prolong conflict in the region, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon.
