Lake Lucerne Summit talks: Sharif praises Iran de-escalation as MoU implementation continues

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking in Burgenstock, said Iran’s delegation showed dignity and a focus on de-escalation during Lake Lucerne Summit talks. The quadrilateral meeting involving the United States, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan is centred on implementing provisions of a new US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, with Pakistan acting as guarantor.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iranian delegates acted with restraint and dignity at talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland. The meeting brought together teams from the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan. Officials described it as the Lake Lucerne Summit. Pakistan and Qatar took mediator roles while the US and Iran led direct negotiations.

The four sides aimed to carry out key parts of a Memorandum of Understanding signed last week. US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the MoU. Sharif signed as a guarantor. The MoU opened a 60-day window for talks. It focused on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions, and Israel’s Lebanon campaign.

Lake Lucerne Summit talks and MoU timeline

Technical discussions were meant to start on Friday but were pushed back. The delay followed fresh firing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. As the talks opened, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani thanked both delegations. "I think that everyone of you has highlighted how important and historic this is, not only on the security of the region but also for the security of the world and for the global economy,\" the Qatari PM said.

Sharif said the Iranian leadership wanted stability. \"I think they genuinely mean to promote peace in the region,\" Sharif said of Iran. Sharif added, \"So does President Trump.\" Sharif also linked Trump to past diplomacy between India and Pakistan. Sharif said there was no doubt Trump was peaceful.

Lake Lucerne Summit statements from Donald Trump

Trump has often said Washington helped end the India-Pakistan conflict. Trump has repeated that claim since May 10 last year. Trump wrote online that both sides agreed a \"full and immediate ceasefire\". The statement came after what Trump called a long night of talks. Sharif said Pakistan hoped for renewed friendship with the US.

As negotiations began, Trump posted a warning on Truth Social about Lebanon. \"Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they dont, well hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!\" Trump also spoke to Fox News about the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the US held a range of options.

Lake Lucerne Summit comments from J D Vance

US Vice President J D Vance told reporters peace needs compromise. \"This is a historic meet. Never before have Iranian and American leadership met at such a high level outside of Islamabad,\" Vance said. Vance described the talks as technical and staged. Vance said they were not meant to settle every dispute at once.

\"What today really represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation thats not going to solve every disagreement, but is going to allow us to sit together as teams, for the first time really in history, to figure out what matters most to the respective parties, to settle those issues, to solve those issues, and get to a better tomorrow,\" he said.

\"The reason why the political leadership of the respective countries is here is because we wanted to, first of all, set up the structure for these technical negotiations, and second of all, make sure that our teams have our full support and know they can always call on us to break through any barriers.\"

Vance said a \"great deal\" was already done and credited Trump. Vance also set out a choice for the region’s future. \"Can we change relations in the Middle East, or do we go back to doing things the old way?\" he said. \"Where Iran and the Gulf have had an unfriendly relationship, or Iran has been a driver of regional instability? We see a future where everyone can work together to promote peace and prosperity for everyone.\"

Vance said Trump backed a wider regional ceasefire, including Lebanon. Vance said ceasefires often turn out complicated. Vance said recent days showed some progress. Vance also said the US could shift ties with Iran. Vance said it depended on Iran ending nuclear weapon ambitions long term.

Vance thanked Sharif and Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir. \"I have joked that I have two very, very important people in my life. An Indian and a Pakistani. The Indian is my wife, and the Pakistani is Field Marshal Munir,\" he said. Vance said talks with Field Marshal Munir were frequent in recent months.

Lake Lucerne Summit sidelines meetings with Pakistan and Iran

Earlier the same day, Sharif met both sides separately on the sidelines. Vance led the US delegation in those discussions. Iran’s team was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Photos shared on X by Sharif’s office showed handshakes in separate meetings. Munir accompanied Sharif and appeared in meeting images.

Before the evening talks started, Sharif spoke to the press with Vance and Al Thani nearby. Sharif praised Trump and Iran’s leaders. Sharif also spoke positively about Munir’s role. \"I think here we are going to have wonderful discussions which will lead to, hopefully, very productive results in times to come,\" Sharif said.

Sharif said he expected a written outcome from the talks. \"Hopefully when we go back to our homes, well have some wonderful paper in our hand which will promote peace, progress and prosperity around the globe.\" Sharif said the goal was steady coordination between Pakistan and the US. Pakistan and Qatar continued to act as mediators at the Lake Lucerne Summit.

With inputs from PTI