Islamabad : Although technical level talks between Iran and the United States (US) are still intact , but the process got stalled after the first round of talks when Iran’s negotiators lodged protest over President Trump’s threats on their delegates besides claiming to take over the Strait of Hormuz in the case talks failed in Switzerland.
President Trump hurled threats to Iranian delegates ahead of technical level talks in Switzerland and claimed that the US will takeover the Strait of Hormuz if talks with Iran failed in Switzerland.
According to international media, Iranian side took President Trump’s threats seriously and told to the mediators that the US threats strengthen their views that Washington neither was serious in talks with Iran nor wants peace in the Middle East (ME).
Iran doubts the US intentions and it has expressed these apprehensions many times since the start of peace talks.
Israel’s blatant attacks on Lebanon are another factor that pushed the technical level talks between the US and Iran into a difficult phase on Sunday.
Israel is carrying out attacks on Lebanon on daily basis, killing innocent Lebanese. It neither accepts US-Iran understanding on the issue nor listens to any calls for withdrawal of forces from Northern Lebanon. These factors have dimmed chances of success of technical level talks between Iran and US.
Pakistan and Qatar are part of technical level talks between Iran and US. These both key mediators may go to extra milage to save the technical level talks to make sure that Iran and US reach a final agreement for permanent peace in ME.
Declaring a desire to “turn over a new leaf” in the Middle East, the leaders of Pakistan, the United States, and Qatar on Sunday expressed strong hope that the Bürgenstock talks would play a role to promote global peace, international security, and economic prosperity around the globe.
Talking to media before the start of technical level talks between Iran and the United States in continuation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, US Vice President JD Vance, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, strongly emphasized that the joint collaborative diplomatic efforts marked the beginning of a vital process to build a sustainable future and achieve an agreement for global stability.
Being hosted and mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, the talks are meant to iron out the details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between US and Iran to cease hostilities and negotiate a framework for a durable solution to regional peace and stability.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed the hope that the discussions between the United States and Iran would lead to positive results and produce a document that would further the cause of peace, progress and prosperity around the globe.
US Vice President JD Vance, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other members of different delegations including Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar were also present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the talks were crucial for peace and prosperity in region, adding the crisis created huge challenges for the world. He thanked the US President Donald Trump for his visionary and dynamic leadership which resulted in the meeting in Switzerland.
He lauded US President J D Vance for his leadership during the talks. He also appreciated the Prime Minister of Qatar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their outstanding role and consistent efforts. He said the leadership from the participating countries could create lasting peace in the world through these talks.
“I think together all these efforts have culminated here in this wonderful, humanistic Bürgenstock. It’s really very wonderful to be here. Hopefully, when we go back to our homes, we’ll have some wonderful paper in our hands which will promote peace, progress, and prosperity around the globe,” he remarked. US Vice President JD Vance appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their leadership role and sustained efforts for peace.
“We would not be here without the Field Marshal who is a great military leader, statesman and diplomat,” he added. “I have a few other notes of appreciation. First of all, to the Prime Minister of Pakistan — a dear friend of the President, a dear friend of mine, and a guy whose leadership and very careful, skilled negotiations have gotten us to this point. Also to his Field Marshal in Pakistan, Asim Munir…I’ve probably talked to Field Marshal Munir more than I’ve talked to anybody else over the last three months. We would not be here without his statesmanship,” Vance stated.
He also appreciated the Qatari leader calling him an amazing friend of the United States of America, who had also been an important part of getting us to this point. “What we’re trying to accomplish here is something very simple: through diplomacy and through working together, to transform the Middle East… Now, we see a future where everybody can work together to promote peace and prosperity for everyone.”
Calling the meeting “historic” he said that never before has the Iranian and American leadership met at such a high level. “What the President has asked us to do is turn over a new leaf, to transform our relationship with the people of Iran, and to extend an outstretched hand…That is certainly our goal. We’ve already made great progress over just the last few hours, and I expect that we’ll make additional progress in the hours to come.”
Responding to a query about the conflict in Lebanon, JD Vance said that President Trump had committed to seeing a full regional ceasefire as the parties were working towards regional peace.
“There’s still some additional wood to chop, but we’re going to keep on working at it…President of the United States and the United States of America have done more to stop the conflict in Lebanon than any government anywhere in the world over the last few months.”
In his remarks, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also lauded the leadership of US Vice President, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Field Marshal who initiated the process.
“I think that every one of you has highlighted how important this meeting is, how historic this event is, and how significant this agreement is—not only for the security of the region, but also for the security of the world and for the global economy,” he added.
