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Pakistan PM Sharif to lead delegation at US-Iran talks in Switzerland

By The South Asia Times

Bürgenstock, Switzerland – Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to lead the Pakistani delegation at the upcoming technical-level negotiations between the United States and Iran, diplomatic sources have confirmed.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Defense Forces, is also expected to join Sharif.

The high-stakes talks, scheduled to begin on June 21 at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland, will focus on implementing commitments under the recently signed "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding".

The high-powered Pakistani delegation includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, along with senior government officials.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who traveled to Tehran to support the diplomatic initiative, is expected to accompany the Iranian delegation to Switzerland following his meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Sources indicate Naqvi's mission was critical in persuading Tehran to proceed with the talks before Ashura.

The Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with specialized committees covering economic and security portfolios. Abdolnasser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, heads the economic committee, while Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, is also part of the team.

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has already arrived in Switzerland to reinforce Qatar's role as a co-mediator. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly en route, with Jared Kushner already on the ground.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a 14-point framework, was electronically signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Prime Minister Sharif serving as mediator.

The agreement aims to end the conflict that began on February 28 and includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the US naval blockade, and establishing a 60-day window to resolve outstanding issues including Iran's nuclear program.

Pakistan's role as mediator has received international recognition, with British lawmakers in the House of Lords praising the country's constructive efforts.