US-Iran Signing Ceremony in Switzerland: What We Know So Far
Al Jazeera Staff
US and Iranian representatives are set to meet in Switzerland on Friday for a ceremony marking an agreement that ends the US-Israel war on Iran and launches a new round of talks. A 14-point memorandum, signed Wednesday, provides the framework for 60 days of negotiations on issues including Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.
US and Iranian representatives are expected to meet in Switzerland on Friday (June 27) for a ceremony to sign an agreement ending the US-Israel war on Iran, and to begin the next phase of negotiations.
A 14-point memorandum outlining the framework for 60 days of talks was signed by the US and Iran on Wednesday (June 25).
Venue
The ceremony and talks are scheduled to take place at the Burgenstock Resort in Stansstad, near Lucerne in central Switzerland. The resort is owned by Katara Hospitality, part of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, a country that has served as a conflict mediator.
Al Jazeera's diplomatic editor James Bays, on the scene at Burgenstock, noted that the hilltop location makes security easier to control and limits access. Unlike previous talks in Geneva, this setup makes it difficult for the media to follow developments closely, he added.
Also reporting from Burgenstock, correspondent Osama bin Javaid said helicopters were constantly moving in and out, and Swiss military and police were patrolling. This is high-stakes diplomacy, so security is extremely tight. He stressed this is not merely a ceremonial signing — the document has already been signed — but rather the official kickoff to the remaining 59 days for the parties to reach a conclusion.
The same venue hosted the Ukraine peace summit in 2024, attended by some 100 delegations, including then-US Vice President Kamala Harris and leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and many other countries.
Participants
A specific list has not been released. As of Thursday (June 26), it remained unclear whether any high-ranking officials would attend.
Earlier, the official signing was expected to include US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. However, since the document has already been signed, the next phase of talks will start on Friday, possibly after a smaller ceremony.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the current plan is for the US and Iran, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved nations, to meet at Burgenstock for initial talks on implementing the agreement.
However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif canceled his trip to Switzerland because the memorandum for Islamabad was signed electronically and is in effect. Spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi said Pakistan would support technical talks in the next phase.
Editor Bays observed that if the Pakistani prime minister does not attend, the diplomatic lineup will downgrade the event. JD Vance and Mr. Ghalibaf are likely to stay away. Some Pakistani media suggested parties would shift toward technical negotiations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Vance said he planned to go to Switzerland but the timing was unclear.
What does the agreement include?
The US has released details of the 14-point memorandum reached with Iran on Wednesday. Neither side has published the original text. A US official read the contents during a press briefing, but Iran has not confirmed the document.
According to the US official, beyond reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US naval blockade at Iranian ports, Washington will immediately grant sanctions waivers for Iran's fossil-fuel sector.
Both sides stressed that this initial agreement is only a starting point for 60 days of negotiations on deeper issues, including Iran's nuclear program, its support for proxy forces in the region, and the future management of the Strait of Hormuz.
