Islamabad likely venue for next US-Iran technical talks on July 11
Islamabad is the leading candidate to host the next US-Iran technical talks on July 11. The meeting could shape progress on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional stability.
Islamabad is emerging as the leading venue for the next round of technical negotiations between the US and Iran, with the talks expected on July 11, according to a Dawn report that quoted diplomatic sources. A final decision on the venue is yet to be announced, and Switzerland's Burgenstock resort is also under consideration.
The talks are part of efforts to keep the diplomatic process on track after the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 aimed at restoring peace in West Asia. Technical-level talks followed in Switzerland on June 21 with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators, and the next meeting is expected to focus on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, Iranian assets frozen abroad and regional security issues.
"There are two possible venues for the technical talks - Islamabad and the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland," one diplomatic source said. "Islamabad, however, is the more likely option." The July 11 meeting is intended to take forward the framework set under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which gave both sides 60 days to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme and related issues.
The talks were temporarily delayed because of the multi-day state funeral ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials have said the composition of Tehran's delegation will be announced after the ceremonies conclude. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for the last three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of the massive US and Israeli joint air strikes on Tehran. Starting Sunday, burial ceremonies are scheduled in Tehran and Qom and will continue till Tuesday, July 7, with the final burial ceremony to be held in Mashhad on Thursday, July 9.
Dawn said diplomatic sources indicated that the negotiations would cover Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and frozen assets, while also addressing efforts to preserve stability in the Strait of Hormuz and maintain the recently agreed ceasefire in Lebanon. The latest diplomatic efforts follow indirect technical discussions held in Doha earlier this week. US President Donald Trump described those talks as "very good", while Iranian officials said the two sides had reached an understanding on the partial release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. US officials, however, reportedly disputed that any such agreement had been reached.
Diplomatic sources said mediators from Qatar and Pakistan continued to facilitate indirect contacts during the pause in negotiations, with discussions focusing on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and preserving the 60-day ceasefire agreed after the June negotiations in Switzerland. The most recent high-level negotiations at Burgenstock, also mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, produced what negotiators described as a roadmap for a broader agreement covering Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, maritime security and regional de-escalation. Those marathon sessions were said to have made progress, though negotiators cautioned that the process remained fragile amid tensions between Washington and Tehran. Officials familiar with the negotiations said the next round of high-level direct talks is expected in Doha in the third week of July, after technical teams complete work on the details of a possible agreement.
With PTI Inputs
Islamabad is emerging as the leading venue for the next round of technical negotiations between the US and Iran, with the talks expected on July 11, according to a Dawn report that quoted diplomatic sources. A final decision on the venue is yet to be announced, and Switzerland's Burgenstock resort is also under consideration.
The talks are part of efforts to keep the diplomatic process on track after the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 aimed at restoring peace in West Asia. Technical-level talks followed in Switzerland on June 21 with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators, and the next meeting is expected to focus on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, Iranian assets frozen abroad and regional security issues.
"There are two possible venues for the technical talks - Islamabad and the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland," one diplomatic source said. "Islamabad, however, is the more likely option." The July 11 meeting is intended to take forward the framework set under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which gave both sides 60 days to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme and related issues.
The talks were temporarily delayed because of the multi-day state funeral ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials have said the composition of Tehran's delegation will be announced after the ceremonies conclude. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for the last three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of the massive US and Israeli joint air strikes on Tehran. Starting Sunday, burial ceremonies are scheduled in Tehran and Qom and will continue till Tuesday, July 7, with the final burial ceremony to be held in Mashhad on Thursday, July 9.
Dawn said diplomatic sources indicated that the negotiations would cover Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and frozen assets, while also addressing efforts to preserve stability in the Strait of Hormuz and maintain the recently agreed ceasefire in Lebanon. The latest diplomatic efforts follow indirect technical discussions held in Doha earlier this week. US President Donald Trump described those talks as "very good", while Iranian officials said the two sides had reached an understanding on the partial release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. US officials, however, reportedly disputed that any such agreement had been reached.
Diplomatic sources said mediators from Qatar and Pakistan continued to facilitate indirect contacts during the pause in negotiations, with discussions focusing on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and preserving the 60-day ceasefire agreed after the June negotiations in Switzerland. The most recent high-level negotiations at Burgenstock, also mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, produced what negotiators described as a roadmap for a broader agreement covering Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, maritime security and regional de-escalation. Those marathon sessions were said to have made progress, though negotiators cautioned that the process remained fragile amid tensions between Washington and Tehran. Officials familiar with the negotiations said the next round of high-level direct talks is expected in Doha in the third week of July, after technical teams complete work on the details of a possible agreement.
With PTI Inputs
