Further US-Iran Talks Begin with Qatar and Pakistan as Mediators

Further talks between Iran and the United States have begun in Switzerland, with Qatar and Pakistan serving as mediators in the negotiations. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the start of the US-Iran discussions, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, at noon local time. “It is hoped that these meetings will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive and permanent agreement addressing all aspects covered in the Memorandum of Understanding,” the ministry’s statement read. Live footage showed members of the US delegation entering the meeting room at the venue for the US-Iran talks in Switzerland. Present at the meeting were US Vice President JD Vance, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Vance said US President Donald Trump had paved the way for a diplomatic solution in the Middle East, adding that Trump was committed to a permanent deal. “He gave us the authority to find a diplomatic solution to a number of issues,” Vance said. “The question is whether we can permanently change the relationship in the Middle East,” he added.