Talks aimed at strengthening the fragile interim agreement between the United States and Iran and advancing efforts to end the West Asia conflict began today at Bürgenstock in Switzerland.
The talks are being mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. US Vice-President, JD Vance is leading the US delegation while Iran’s delegation is being led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The meeting comes as Tehran said, the Strait of Hormuz is closed again over Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, but the US military said the waterway remains open to all vessels.
The first clause of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) published last week requires a ceasefire on all fronts including Lebanon, where fighting has escalated between Israel and the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah.
The Iranian government said, a meeting between the Iranian negotiating team and Qatari mediators was held in Burgenstock. Tehran and Washington are set to participate in quadrilateral talks later in the day with representatives of Qatar and Pakistan.
Ahead of the four-party talks, the US delegation which also comprises Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held a meeting with the Pakistani mediating team.
Meanwhile, according to the Iranian media, President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that 6 billion US dollars in frozen funds currently in Qatar’s possession will be returned to Iran as part of the preliminary deal with the US to end the war.
Switzerland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on social media that the US delegation, led by US Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have arrived along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The Iranian media report said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy is not issuing permits for vessel passage until further notice. The development came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Burgenstock.