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US-Iran technical talks open in Switzerland after accord, but Lebanon ceasefire stays fragile
Delegations from the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar met Sunday at the Burgenstock resort to work out details of a preliminary accord aimed at ending nearly four months of conflict.
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Technical-level talks between the United States and Iran opened Sunday at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland. U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian intended to halt nearly four months of war.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir traveled to Switzerland to take part. The prime minister’s office said they left Islamabad early Sunday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance also traveled to Switzerland for the talks.
The Iranian delegation is led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi plus central bank and oil officials. U.S. team before the session began, but the Iranian side declined to participate.
The session proceeded without the photograph, and the Iranian delegation entered the venue only after journalists had left the room. The talks are a follow-up to the Islamabad MoU and are aimed at working out key details of the preliminary accord. An earlier round scheduled for Friday at the Swiss village of Obburgen was postponed after the Iranian side cancelled attendance due to escalated fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Negotiators from the United States and Qatar, with Iranian assistance, later reached an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah to reduce hostilities. Israel’s armed forces chief of staff said the ceasefire in Lebanon remains fragile and that troops must stay ready for possible renewed fighting.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported at least 4,106 people killed and 12,153 wounded in Israeli attacks since March 2, including 251 children and 135 medical workers.
Egyptian ambassador Hussein Haridy told Al Jazeera the talks will likely focus on the order in which each side fulfills commitments under a memorandum of understanding. Foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar met in Egypt to build support for a 60-day de-escalation period and stressed the need to ease suffering in Gaza and the West Bank while reaching a diplomatic solution on the Palestinian issue.
