Iranian delegation returns from Switzerland after talks with US

The Iranian delegation has left Switzerland and is returning to Tehran after holding negotiations with US officials, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday. “The Iranian delegation, led by the parliamentary speaker, left the negotiation venue in Switzerland and is heading to Tehran,” the foreign minister wrote on Telegram. According to him, the delegation led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf underwent 18 hours of consultations with the US side. Broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported on Sunday that the Iranian delegation was only willing to return to the negotiating table with the US following an apology from President Donald Trump and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei earlier that day said his side’s talks with the US in Switzerland had shown progress, and technical teams would continue working to implement the memorandum of understanding between the two. Meanwhile, further details regarding the matter will be announced by Qatar and Pakistan. The technical-level negotiations between Iran and the US, along with mediator countries Pakistan and Qatar, took place behind closed doors at the Burgenstock mountain resort on Sunday.