Iranian Foreign Minister Holds Opening Talks with Swiss Counterpart in Zurich

According to a correspondent accompanying the delegation, the meeting took place ahead of broader consultations between Iran and mediating countries on Sunday morning. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is scheduled to continue its diplomatic program with representatives of intermediary states following this initial bilateral meeting.

No official details have yet been released regarding the content of the discussion between Araghchi and Cassis. However, the meeting is seen as a key opening step in a series of sensitive diplomatic engagements taking place in Switzerland.

The Iranian delegation arrived in Zurich late Saturday night, local time. Alongside Foreign Minister Araghchi, the delegation includes Ali Bagheri, Deputy for International Affairs at the Supreme National Security Council Secretariat; Abdolnaser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran; Hamid Bovard, Deputy Oil Minister and CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company; Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs; and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei.

On the other side, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, advisor to US President Donald Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance are present in Switzerland to join the talks. Vance indicated before departure that discussions could last one to two days and may cover implementation mechanisms, a ceasefire in Lebanon, and Iran’s nuclear file.

Mediating countries are also actively engaged in the process. Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani previously met his Swiss counterpart in Bürgenstock to discuss recent developments following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir have also reportedly arrived in Switzerland, contributing to mediation efforts alongside Qatar.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry stated that Bürgenstock has been prepared as a secure, confidential, and trusted environment for discussions on implementing the Iran–US memorandum of understanding. Due to the sensitivity of the talks, Bern has declined to disclose further details about participants or agenda items.

Iran has emphasized that its primary objective in this phase is to ensure the implementation of existing commitments rather than entering a new round of comprehensive negotiations. Spokesperson Baqaei stressed that any future talks on a final agreement would depend on verified progress in implementing key provisions of the MoU.

He also reiterated Tehran’s demands, including an end to regional conflicts, withdrawal of US forces from Iran’s surrounding region, and tangible easing of sanctions-related pressures.

Continued regional tensions, particularly in Lebanon, have added urgency to discussions in Bürgenstock, making the meeting a critical test of willingness to fulfill commitments and advance toward further diplomatic steps.