US‑Iran talks in Switzerland mediated by Qatar and Pakistan

From June 21‑22, 2026, senior delegations from the United States and Iran met in the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland. The U.S. team was led by Vice President J.D. Vance, while Iran was represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghaji and a senior economic delegation. Qatar and Pakistan acted as mediators.

The talks aimed to implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier in the week. Key agenda items included a technical roadmap for a 60‑day comprehensive agreement, Iranian nuclear programme restrictions, a phased lift of U.S. sanctions, the release of roughly $12 billion of frozen Iranian assets, and the creation of a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran. Both sides also discussed reopening the strategic Hormuz Strait for commercial shipping and securing a cease‑fire in Lebanon.

Progress was described as “encouraging” by the mediators, with a high‑level committee to oversee technical groups and a contact centre for incidents in Hormuz. However, tensions persisted: U.S. President Donald Trump warned the United States could become a “guardian” of the Strait and impose a 20 percent fee on oil transit, while Iran’s delegation briefly walked out of a session in protest of the threats. The negotiations are slated to continue with further technical meetings later in the week.