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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the upcoming phase of talks between the U.S. and Iran may be more challenging, yet he remains hopeful that a conclusive agreement is attainable. In an interview with an Arab news outlet, Dar indicated Iran would opt to reduce its uranium enrichment levels instead of exporting its current uranium stockpiles, which aligns with Washington’s original goal of having those reserves removed from Iran. He mentioned the formation of three technical working groups focused on nuclear issues, frozen assets, and Lebanon-related concerns to facilitate the broader negotiations.
Dar further revealed that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be permitted to transit free of tariffs for 60 days, paying only standard navigation or service fees, under the terms of the recent understanding. He attributed the negotiation leadership to President Donald Trump and highlighted the backing from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates for the mediation process.
He viewed the arrangement as positive, emphasizing that it contained “no negative points,” and expressed optimism about reaching a comprehensive settlement despite potential obstacles ahead. Mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran have shown “encouraging progress” in first-round talks aimed at ending the Middle East conflict, although disagreements linger over Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz’s security.
A joint statement from Pakistan and Qatar, mediators in these talks, announced that the U.S. and Iran have agreed on a roadmap to a final deal within 60 days. Technical discussions are scheduled to continue at the Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock for the rest of the week, according to the statement from Qatar’s foreign ministry. The parties also agreed on mechanisms to stop hostilities in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, aligned with Iran, and established a communication channel to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships through the strait, a critical route for global oil supplies.
Vice President JD Vance stated that the initial round of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Switzerland laid a solid foundation for ultimately concluding the Middle East conflict. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to fostering dialogue and diplomacy in pursuit of a peaceful, lasting resolution.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended both the U.S. and Iran for their ongoing dedication to constructive engagement. He extended thanks to friendly and brotherly countries for their support in advancing what he called a historic diplomatic process, with special gratitude towards Qatar for its pivotal role and the Swiss government for hosting the talks.
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