Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to the press in Burgenstock, where US, Iranian, Qatari and Pakistani delegations gathered for peace talks on Sunday, praised the Iranian delegation’s cool-headedness, dignity and attempts at de-escalation.
“I think they genuinely mean to promote peace in the region,” PM Shehbaz said of the Iranian leadership, adding, “So does President Trump.”
“I have no second thoughts about the fact that he is a man of peace — He has demonstrated that during the war between Pakistan and India,” he said.
The premier was optimistic about the “renewed friendship” with the US, and hoped it would grow into a relationship of close coordination and cooperation between the two countries.
First round of talks
Closed-door quadripartite negotations between the US and Iran kicked off earlier today, with Qatar and Pakistan participating in a mediatory role.
As the talks began, US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social had threatened Iran over unrest in Lebanon, one of the key issues on the table during today’s talks.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” he said.
Separately in an interview with Fox News, the US president issued threats over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that he maintains “a variety of options” at his disposal.
Roughly 80 minutes into the talks, Iranian media reported a pause, with delegations withdrawing to hold internal consultations.
Following the pause, Iran’s chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf in a statement on X dismissed US threats, cautioning Washington to “be careful”. He vowed that Tehran stood “ready to respond”.
‘Peace requires give and take’
Addressing the opening ceremony ahead of the closed-door talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hoped for an outcome that would ensure peace, progress and prosperity globally.
PM Shehbaz said he was looking forward to productive talks, and expressed satisfaction that the joint efforts of everyone involved in the peace process had culminated in the meet in Burgenstock.
“I think here we are going to have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come,” he said.
He thanked US President Trump and VP JD Vance for their leadership, and praised Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir for his consistent efforts, perseverence and patience during the mediation process.
US Vice President JD Vance told the press that “peace requires give and take”.
“This is a historic meet. Never before have Iranian and American leadership met at such a high level outside of Islamabad,” he said.
“What today really represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation that’s not going to solve every disagreement, but is going to allow us to sit together as teams, for the first time really in history, to figure out what matters most to the respective parties, to settle those issues, to solve those issues, and get to a better tomorrow,” he told reporters.
“The reason why the political leadership of the respective countries is here is because we wanted to, first of all, set up the structure for these technical negotiations, and second of all, make sure that our teams have our full support and know they can always call on us to break through any barriers.”
Thanking US President Donald Trump “for empowering us to find a diplomatic solution”, Vance said a great deal had “already been accomplished” and the team looked forward to seeing “how much more we can accomplish together”.
“Can we change relations in the Middle East, or do we go back to doing things the old way?” he said. “Where Iran and the Gulf have had an unfriendly relationship, or Iran has been a driver of regional instability? We see a future where everyone can work together to promote peace and prosperity for everyone.”
Vance said Trump is committed to a “full regional ceasefire”, including Lebanon. These kinds of ceasefires are always “a little bit messy”, but they had seen progress over the last few days, he added.
Vance also shared appreciation for PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir, saying: “I have joked 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,” he said, adding that he had “probably talked to Field Marshal Munir more than anyone else over the last few months”.
“If Iran is willing to give up nuclear weapon ambitions for the long term, the US is willing to transform relations with them,” he said.
The president, he said, had urged him to “turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran, and to extend an outstretched hand”.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also speaking at the opening ceremony, thanked both the US and Iranian delegations for their efforts to make peace in the Middle East.
“I think that everyone 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,” the Qatari PM said.
“I would like to thank all of you for your leadership and determination that put us in this room. This is not really the main celebration, this is just the beginning and I wish everyone all the best,” Al Thani said.
He added that Qatar would remain dedicated to the partnership to support mediation efforts until a solution is reached.
Before the start of their remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly walked into the room and embraced PM Shehbaz, the White House Press Pool Reports said in a statement released on X. “He was there just a short time before walking out again and did not during that time interact with Vance, who was on the other side of the room,” it added.
The media were ushered out of the meeting room as the talks began.
Technical groups to help negotiate MoU clauses: Qatar
The ‘technical-level’ talks today seek to iron out the details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Tehran and Washington to cease hostilities and negotiate a framework to end the war.
In a statement, the Qatari foreign ministry announced “the launch of the Lucerne Lake Summit and the first high-level committee meeting” between the four sides, which it hoped would “lead to reaching a comprehensive and permanent agreement that addresses all aspects covered by the Memorandum of Understanding.”
The Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari stated that “technical and specialised groups have been formed to negotiate the final agreement’s clauses, which will cover all aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding.”
“Additionally, follow-up groups have been established to oversee the implementation of the memorandum and track the progress achieved toward reaching the final agreement, reflecting the commitment of all parties to proceed in the negotiation process in good faith and with the goal of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.”
He emphasized that the State of Qatar, as one of the mediating countries, will continue to work with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and all concerned parties to create a positive environment that enables the negotiations to achieve their goals, based on its firm belief that dialogue and diplomacy represent the optimal path for conflict resolution and dispute settlement.
The Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson also appreciated the “important role” played by Pakistan as a partner and mediator, praising Islamabad’s “documented and continuous efforts in supporting the negotiation process”.
He also expressed appreciation for Washington and Tehran’s commitment to finding a diplomatic solution, and for the support provided by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, as well as other friendly countries that “contributed to creating favorable conditions to push this process forward.”
Delegations meet ahead of talks
The quadrilateral meeting follows bilateral and tripartite meetings between the different parties participating in the talks.
Iranian state television said that delegations from Iran, Qatar and the US were holding a meeting to discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s frozen assets.
“A tripartite meeting involving Iran, the United States and Qatar on the subjects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s blocked assets is currently being held at the negotiation venue,” state broadcaster IRIB said in a report.
The Foreign Office (FO) said that Pakistan would hold bilateral interactions with the participating delegations from Iran, Qatar, Switzerland and the US, to “reaffirm Pakistan’s enduring commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region”.
Ahead of the quadrilateral meeting, PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir met the US negotiating team, led by VP Vance.
The Pakistani delegation also met the Iranian delegation led by Ghalibaf. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar were also part of the meeting.
Delegations from the US, Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan had arrived at the venue on Sunday morning amid tight security and heavy media presence.
A senior official of the Prime Minister’s Office told Dawn it is not yet confirmed if the Pakistani delegation will return today, the source added.
State broadcaster PTV, which is reporting live from Burgenstock, said that technical-level talks between the US and Iranian delegations could “extend into tomorrow” and that there was no formal timeframe announced yet, and that the discussions would continue for “as long as necessary”.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, speaking to IRNA, said that a one-day session was planned, which is expected to feature bilateral meetings with mediators Pakistan and Qatar in the morning, followed by quadrilateral talks in the afternoon.
Pakistani delegation arrives
The Prime Minister’s Office said PM Shehbaz and his delegation arrived in Zurich earlier on Sunday morning to participate in the talks, after which they travelled to Burgenstock, the venue for the hotly anticipated talks.
State broadcaster PTV reported that the premier was accompanied by Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and other senior government officials. State media also confirmed the arrival of CDF Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Burgenstock resort.
US, Iran teams arrive
US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s Parliament Speaker and head negotiator of the Iranian side Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also arrived for the talks on implementing the deal.
Vance arrived at Emmen Air Base at 5:59am (08:59 PKT), according to his spokesperson. He had taken off for Switzerland on Saturday, saying negotiators would discuss Iran’s nuclear programme and the Lebanon ceasefire.
“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we’re to be focused on,” Vance told reporters before departing from Joint Base Andrews, saying he could only join the talks “for a day or two”.
Vance said the situation in Lebanon was “actually getting better”. “It’s going to be something we’re just going to have to continuously manage to ensure that… Israel and Lebanon are both safe and secure,” he said.
“The big problem is that you have somebody will shoot and then somebody will respond, and you kind of have a chicken and egg problem where you’ve just got to stop the shooting for long enough to get the ceasefire to keep hold.”
US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Switzerland handling technical elements of the talks, Vance said earlier.
Iran’s delegation, which landed in Switzerland in the early hours of Sunday, arrived at Burgenstock for the talks by early afternoon.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA said the delegation was led by Ghalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Ali Bagheri (Deputy for International Affairs of the Supreme National Security Council Secretariat), Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, National Iranian Oil Company CEO Hamid Bovard, Deputy FM Kazem Gharibabad and Esmail Baqaei were also part of the team.
PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir depart for talks
In a statement issued in the morning, the FO said PM Shehbaz, accompanied by CDF Munir, left for Bürgenstock to participate in “high-level talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)”.
In its statement, the FO noted that the talks marked the first formal engagement between the US and Iran since the signing of the Islamabad MoU on June 17.
It confirmed that high-level delegations from the US, Iran and Qatar will be part of the talks.
“Pakistan will continue to support and advance the implementation of the understandings reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US,” the FO affirmed.
“Pakistan’s facilitative role underscores its principled, balanced, and constructive approach throughout the crisis, including hosting earlier rounds of US-Iran talks and sustained diplomatic contacts that culminated in the Islamabad MoU.”
FO announces talks in Switzerland
Earlier on Saturday, the 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.”
Speaking to Fox News, JD Vance said negotiations with Iran “are going well”, but that the US “has all the cards”.
Meanwhile, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced that Iran will be sending a delegation to Switzerland, according to 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.
US-Iran deal
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.
More to follow.
