ISLAMABAD, Jun 21 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met a high-level United States delegation led by Vice President JD Vance ahead of the much-anticipated technical-level talks between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland.
The four-day discussions, known as the “Lake Lucerne Summit,” are being held as a follow-up to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was facilitated by Pakistan to support diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Pakistani leadership will participate in discussions scheduled for June 21 as part of continued efforts to support dialogue and regional stability following the agreement reached between Tehran and Washington.
The Foreign Office said delegations from Iran, Qatar, and the United States would participate in the talks, describing them as the first formal engagement after the signing of the Islamabad MoU on June 17.
The FO stated that Pakistan would continue supporting the understandings reached between the two countries, adding that Islamabad’s facilitation role reflected a balanced, constructive, and principled diplomatic approach during the crisis.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts included hosting earlier rounds of discussions between the US and Iran and maintaining continuous communication with both sides, which eventually contributed to the signing of the memorandum.
During the Switzerland meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with delegations from Iran, Qatar, Switzerland, and the United States to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and lasting peace in the region.
The talks come days after the United States and Iran electronically signed the Islamabad MoU aimed at addressing the Middle East crisis. US President Donald Trump announced the agreement, saying it included measures related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing restrictions on Iranian ports.
Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later signed the Islamabad MoU as mediator, formally confirming Pakistan’s role in facilitating the diplomatic process.
US Vice President JD Vance travelled to Switzerland for the talks and expressed hope for progress on key issues, including the nuclear matter and the Lebanon ceasefire.
“Despite the headlines, things are actually getting better there,” Vance told reporters before departure, adding that continued efforts would be needed to ensure regional security and stability.
Meanwhile, Iran’s delegation, led by Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Zurich to participate in the discussions.
The negotiations are taking place amid renewed tensions that have created uncertainty around the fragile diplomatic progress. Earlier, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following Israeli strikes in Lebanon, increasing concerns over the continuation of peace efforts.
The follow-up talks were initially scheduled earlier but were delayed after deadly strikes in Lebanon triggered fresh challenges for the diplomatic process.
Observers view the Switzerland meeting as a critical step in maintaining momentum behind the Islamabad MoU and preventing further escalation in the wider Middle East region.
