Islamabad is set to host the upcoming round of US-Iran technical negotiations scheduled for July 14 and 15. Experts from both countries will engage in these talks, which mark the third session aimed at securing lasting peace in the Middle East. Pakistan will act as a mediator during these discussions.
Previously, two rounds of technical talks took place in Switzerland’s Burgenstock and Qatar’s Doha. The forthcoming talks will concentrate on critical issues such as US sanctions on Iran, the status of Iranian frozen assets, and matters related to Iran’s nuclear program. The composition of the Iranian delegation is expected to be finalized following the funeral of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
During the Doha discussions, negotiators from both sides spent two days addressing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of Iranian funds—key points outlined in the initial agreement. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described the Doha talks as yielding “positive progress” on the memorandum that paused hostilities in June, building upon outcomes from a prior summit in Switzerland.
In June, Washington and Tehran agreed to a memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan and Qatar. This agreement included a 60-day ceasefire that halted the conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes in late February and facilitated the reopening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The 14-point deal also established a timeline for negotiations to permanently end the war and resolve issues such as maritime arrangements, reconstruction funding for Iran, and the future of its nuclear program.
Following indirect talks in Doha, US President Donald Trump and mediators from Qatar and Pakistan indicated that diplomatic efforts were progressing. The mediators confirmed that separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators resulted in positive developments.
At the conclusion of the talks, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led Tehran’s delegation, announced an agreement to establish a communication channel by Thursday to monitor and report alleged violations of the memorandum. Discussions also addressed the release of frozen Iranian assets, a key demand from Tehran. Officials reviewed the allocation of an initial $6 billion, agreeing that essential goods for Iran would be purchased and distributed accordingly.
The conflict began on February 28 following coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, resulting in over 2,000 casualties and destabilizing the region. The initial attack claimed the lives of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top civil and military officials. Iran retaliated by disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and targeting US and Israeli interests.
