PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir meet US VP Vance ahead of US-Iran technical talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Sunday held a bilateral meeting with the US negotiating team, led by Vice President JD Vance, ahead of the highly anticipated technical-level talks in Switzerland’s Burgenstock resort, the PM Office stated.

PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir also held a meeting with an Iranian delegation in Bürgenstock today.

The Iranian delegation was led by Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The development comes hours after delegations from the US, Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan arrived at the venue earlier for talks to related to the details of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Tehran and Washington to cease hostilities and negotiate a framework to end the war on Thursday.

The talks between the two parties are set to begin shortly, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said as delegations from the US, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar arrived at the venue.

Upon his arrival at Burgentstock resort, the prime minister briefly interacted with the media in German language.

The prime minister had landed in Zurich, Switzerland, earlier in the day.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Zurich along with his delegation. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and COAS & CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in the High-Level Talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” the statement said.

Earlier, the PMO said the prime minister and the military chief are leading a high-level Pakistani delegation to Bürgenstock, where representatives of the United States and Iran are scheduled to hold their first formal technical engagement since the signing of the Islamabad MoU on Thursday.

Separately, the Foreign Office also confirmed Pakistan’s participation, saying Islamabad would continue to “support and advance” the implementation of the agreement reached between the United States and Iran.

The development came as Switzerland welcomed the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Bürgenstock.

In a post on X, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said the delegation had arrived “as part of the implementation of the MoU signed between the United States and Iran.”

US Vice President JD Vance also departed Washington for the talks, underlining the importance the United States attaches to the negotiations.

Speaking to reporters before leaving Joint Base Andrews, Vance said he hoped the discussions would make progress on “the nuclear issue” and “the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” describing them as the two main priorities for the next stage of negotiations.

The June 21 talks will bring together representatives from the United States and Iran, alongside mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, marking the first technical-level discussions following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The discussions are expected to focus on implementing commitments under the agreement’s 60-day framework, including steps to end the conflict, ease US sanctions on Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as negotiators seek to advance the next phase of the peace process.