US, Iran To Hold Truce Negotiations In Switzerland On Sunday; Pakistani, Qatari Mediators To Join
US, Iran To Hold Truce Negotiations In Switzerland On Sunday; Pakistani, Qatari Mediators To Join Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 20:55 IST The
US, Iran To Hold Truce Negotiations In Switzerland On Sunday; Pakistani, Qatari Mediators To Join Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 20:55 IST The proposed US-Iran deal was designed to de-escalate tensions across West Asia, including in Lebanon. US President Donald Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. (AI-generated image) Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday stated that technical-level discussions will take place between US and Iranian representatives in Switzerland’s Burgenstock on Sunday. In a statement, the Ministry added that Pakistani and Qatari mediators will also participate in the high-level talks to bring an end to the hostilities in West Asia. This comes after the US and Iran signed an interim agreement earlier this week to resolve their conflict. “As a follow-up to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, technical-level talks will be held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on 21 June," the statement read. Vance Says He Expects Switzerland Trip Soon Earlier in the day, US Vice President JD Vance said he expects to travel to Switzerland in the coming days for talks with Iran, saying negotiations were going well.
Vance’s remarks came minutes before Tehran announced another closure of the Strait of Hormuz. “I expect that I will leave some time the next couple of days, but, you know, it’s always a delicate coordination dance," Vance told Fox News. The Vice President had unexpectedly postponed a planned trip two days earlier to discuss next steps on the US-Iran agreement. Vance said US negotiators, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, were already in Switzerland, handling “some of the technical elements" of the talks, and had reported that “things are going well." Iranian Team En Route To Switzerland Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that an Iranian negotiating team was already on its way to the European nation, after quoting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as warning that the agreement was “in trouble." The warning came as the Islamic Republic announced it was again closing the critically vital waterway over renewed Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
Tehran has accused Washington of a “breach of contract" and Israel of violating a ceasefire in southern Lebanon, saying the strait would be closed to vessel traffic. Iran had kept Hormuz closed for much of the conflict, disrupting global energy supplies and rattling international markets. However, under a preliminary understanding reached with Washington, Tehran agreed to reopen the strategic waterway. The proposed US-Iran deal was designed to help de-escalate tensions across the region, including in Lebanon, where Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have continued exchanging fire despite a ceasefire announced by Washington on Friday. Talks in Switzerland are expected to launch a two-month negotiating process aimed at resolving outstanding issues, particularly those concerning Iran’s nuclear programme. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.
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