Islamabad (TDI): Islamabad is emerging as the leading venue for the next round of technical negotiations between the United States and Iran, with a fresh round expected on July 11, diplomatic sources told Dawn on Sunday.
According to the sources, two locations are under consideration; Islamabad and the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, though Islamabad currently appears as the more likely choice.
The upcoming talks are meant to build on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed two weeks ago, which set a 60-day window for both countries to work toward an agreement covering Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and frozen Iranian assets.
Negotiators are also expected to discuss regional security matters, including safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon.
The talks are paused as the multi-day state funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is underway.
Tehran said it will announce its delegation once the ceremonies conclude, while Qatari and Pakistani mediators are keeping indirect channels open during the pause.
Read More: Trump Says Iran ‘Dying to Settle’ During Independence Day Speech at Mount Rushmore
Even as diplomacy continues, public rhetoric between Washington and Tehran has not really cooled off. Speaking at a Mount Rushmore Independence Day event, President Trump claimed the US has “given Iran a week off… because we’re nice.”
Iran’s foreign ministry responded by vowing to pursue “justice” against the US and Israel, calling it “an enduring cause.” Separately, the IRGC Navy’s commander said “divine retribution” against Washington and Israel is “not far off.”
Meanwhile, parliament speaker and chief Iranian negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, pushed back on Trump’s repeated claim that Iran would buy American agricultural goods as part of any peace deal.
After the MoU was signed, the first round of talks between the US and Iran took place in Geneva at the famous lakeside resort, which is again a possible venue for the next round post-funeral.
Qatari and Pakistani mediators, in a joint statement, said that progress was made in the first round, though maintaining the secrecy of the process, no further details were let out.
Officials say the next round of high-level direct talks is tentatively expected in Doha during the third week of July, once technical teams finish work on a possible agreement.
