US-Iran peace talks: Pakistan and Qatar mediate technical discussions at Burgenstock

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan expected progress from talks in Switzerland on a US-Iran peace agreement. The meetings began on Sunday at Burgenstock, a mountain resort. The session was described as the Lake Lucerne Summit. Pakistan and Qatar attended as mediators, while the United States and Iran led negotiations.

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The talks in Switzerland centred on putting into action a Memorandum of Understanding, or MoU. US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed it last week. Sharif signed as a guarantor. The MoU set a 60-day window for negotiations tied to peace in West Asia.

US-Iran peace agreement talks and main participants

Before the larger meeting began, Sharif held separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators. Vice President J D Vance headed the American delegation. Iran’s team was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Photos on X from Sharif’s office showed handshakes during the two separate encounters.

Sharif spoke to the press before the evening quadrilateral session. Vance and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani stood alongside. Sharif praised US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders. Sharif also praised Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir, who travelled with Sharif.

"I think here we are going to have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come,\" Sharif said. Sharif linked the talks to future outcomes. Sharif also described hopes for an agreed text after the meetings ended. The remarks came before formal discussions started.

\"Hopefully when we go back to our homes, well have some wonderful paper in our hand which will promote peace, progress and prosperity around the globe,\" Sharif said. Sharif’s comments came as mediators worked to keep both sides engaged. Pakistan and Qatar held roles aimed at helping the two main parties narrow gaps.

US-Iran peace agreement agenda and timeline

The MoU outlined priorities that negotiators aimed to address during the 60-day period. These included Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions imposed on Iran. The agenda also covered Israel’s offensive in Lebanon. Officials framed the Burgenstock sessions as work on technical details linked to those key areas.

Technical discussions were meant to start on Friday, but they began later. The delay was mainly tied to renewed firing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The talks then opened on Sunday as planned at Burgenstock. The Lake Lucerne Summit format brought Pakistan and Qatar together with US and Iranian teams.

With inputs from PTI