PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Asim Munir depart for Switzerland for Iran-US technical talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to attend technical-level talks between Iran and the United States set for today.

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.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Shehbaz and his delegation arrived in Zurich. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir will also participate in the talks.

Later, state broadcaster PTV reported that the premier had reached the venue in Bürgenstock. He was accompanied by Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and other senior government officials.

State media also confirmed the arrival of the Chief of Defence Forces and the Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Bürgenstock resort.

The PMO had confirmed the premier’s departure at around 1am.

In a statement issued in the morning, the Foreign Office (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.

It added that PM Shehbaz is also “expected to hold bilateral interactions with the participating delegations from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Qatar, Switzerland and the US, to reaffirm Pakistan’s enduring commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region”.

“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.”

US Vice President JD Vance took 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 also landed in Switzerland, the Swiss foreign ministry said in the early hours of Sunday.

“The Iranian delegation is on its way to the Bürgenstock as part of the implementation of the MoU signed between the United States and Iran,” the ministry said on X.

Iran’s official news agency IRNA said the delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher 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.

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.

The 14-point agreement was signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with PM Shehbaz 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.