US and Iranian negotiators arrive in Swiss resort for latest round of peace talks

SCMP | June 21, 2026, 4:19 a.m. | Original

A convoy with US Vice-President J.D. Vance arrives at the Burgenstock resort ahead of the talks. Photo: AP

Top negotiators from the United States, Iran and Pakistan have arrived in Switzerland ahead of talks that aim to secure the fragile ceasefire and reach a deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The US team was led by Vice-President J.D. Vance , who arrived in Burgenstock near Lucerne, the resort hosting the talks on Sunday. He joined special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who were already on the ground, the Associated Press reported.

Before setting off from the US, Vance told reporters at the Andrews air base in Maryland that he expected “a couple of days of talks”.

“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” he said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir, the chief of the defence forces, who are acting as key mediators, have also arrived, Sharif’s office announced on social media.

Iran’s delegation includes Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, state-run IRIB News reported.

Qatar has also sent a delegation to the talks to act as mediators.

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