PM Shehbaz, CDF Asim Munir depart for Switzerland to attend Iran-US talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir departed early on Sunday morning for Switzerland to attend technical-level talks between Iran and the United States in Burgenstock on June 21.

The development comes after the long-awaited peace deal was signed on Thursday, heralding an end to months of bitter animosity that had gripped the Middle East and plunged the world into an economic crisis. Under the agreement, the US and Iran have agreed on a framework to end the war, lift the US blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and COAS & CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in these talks,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X, adding that the two are accompanied by a “high-level delegation”.

FO announces talks in Switzerland

Earlier on Saturday, the Foreign Office (FO) announced that technical-level talks will be held in Buergenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday.

“Representatives of the United States and Iran, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, will participate in the discussions,” the FO said.

“Pakistan will continue to facilitate the process in its role as mediator, with a view to advancing the understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.”

US Vice President JD Vance earlier today said he intends to travel to Switzerland for talks “soon” and that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, are already in Switzerland for negotiations.

Speaking to Fox News, he said negotiations with Iran “are going well”, but that the US “has all the cards”.

Meanwhile, Iran also announced that it will be sending a delegation to Switzerland for the talks, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in remarks carried by the Fars news agency.

“In Switzerland, we intend to press for the fulfilment of the other side’s commitments and clarify how they plan to act on their obligations,” Baghaei was quoted as saying, emphasising that Iran adhered to its side of the agreement, and the United States is “obligated to compel the Zionist regime (Israel) to cease its attacks on Lebanon”.

“If part of the counterpart’s commitments is not implemented, the entirety of the agreement will be jeopardised,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying. “The counterpart must take the necessary measures as soon as possible; otherwise, the agreement will be jeopardised,” he added.

The 14-point agreement was signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signing as mediator. Under the deal, Tehran and Washington have agreed on a framework to end the war, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a 60-day timeline for further talks.

The deal, ending more than 100 days of war, has been widely welcomed by the international community.

Once a final agreement is reached on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the US will also facilitate the release of a $300 billion reconstruction fund supported by regional nations, the deal says. ...