US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday described the Iran-US engagement in Switzerland as a “historic” diplomatic opening, while crediting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their decisive leadership in bringing the negotiations to the table.
Speaking at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne at the start of the Lake Lucerne Summit, Vance said the United States would not have reached this stage without Islamabad’s role in facilitating the process.
“We would not be here without the Field Marshal, who is a great military leader, statesman and diplomat,” he said. “I have a few other notes of appreciation. First of all, to the Prime Minister of Pakistan – a dear friend of the president, a dear friend of mine, and a guy whose leadership and very careful, skilled negotiations have gotten us to this point.”
He added that Field Marshal Munir had been one of Washington’s most consistent interlocutors over recent months. “I’ve probably talked to Field Marshal Munir more than I’ve talked to anybody else over the last three months. We would not be here without his statesmanship,” Vance said.
Extending further appreciation, the US Vice President also acknowledged Qatar’s role in the diplomatic effort, describing its leadership as “an important part of getting us to this point” and a “great friend of the United States.”
Vance said the core objective of the talks was to reshape regional dynamics through sustained diplomacy. “What we’re trying to accomplish here is very simple: through diplomacy and through working together, to transform the Middle East,” he said, adding that the emerging framework pointed towards “a future where everybody can work together to promote peace and prosperity for everyone.”
Calling the engagement “historic,” he stressed that it marked the first time Iranian and American officials were meeting at such a high level. “What the president has asked us to do is turn over a new leaf, to transform our relationship with the people of Iran, and to extend an outstretched hand,” he said. “That is certainly our goal. We’ve already made great progress over just the last few hours, and I expect that we’ll make additional progress in the hours to come.”
Referring to the wider regional situation, particularly Lebanon, Vance said the administration was working towards de-escalation. “There’s still some additional wood to chop, but we’re going to keep on working at it,” he said, adding that the US had done “more to stop the conflict in Lebanon than any government anywhere in the world over the last few months.”
The leaders underscored that the Swiss-hosted engagement, backed by Pakistan and Qatar, was aimed at advancing implementation details of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, and translating the interim framework into a durable settlement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also speaking on the occasion alongside US and Qatari leadership, expressed hope that the talks would mark the beginning of a sustained diplomatic process leading to regional stability.
Shehbaz said the negotiations carried broader significance for global peace and economic stability, thanking US President Donald Trump, JD Vance, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Qatar’s leadership for their roles in enabling the process.
“I think together all these efforts have culminated here in this wonderful, humanistic Burgenstock. It’s really very wonderful to be here,” he said, expressing hope that the outcome would produce “a wonderful paper” promoting peace, progress and prosperity.
Shehbaz also praised the Iranian leadership for handling the ongoing crisis with restraint and dignity. He emphasised that Pakistan remains committed to supporting dialogue, de-escalation and lasting peace in the region.
He said the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, have demonstrated a sincere commitment to de-escalation and peace.
“They have handled this entire crisis with a sense of dignity and have shown a genuine desire to de-escalate tensions,” the prime minister said, adding that he believed the Iranian leadership remained committed to promoting lasting peace and stability in the region.
Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s key mediatory role alongside Qatar in the ongoing diplomatic process, and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to facilitating dialogue and supporting the peaceful resolution of disputes. He appreciated the Prime Minister of Qatar and Field Marshal Syed Asim for their outstanding role and consistent efforts.
Shehbaz said President Trump’s “dynamic and courageous leadership” helped avert a wider conflict. He also appreciated Trump’s support for expanding economic cooperation between Pakistan and the US, saying stronger bilateral engagement would usher in a new era of economic cooperation, counterterrorism coordination and regional stability.
He also welcomed the remarks by Vice President Vance, expressing support for Pakistan, calling them an encouraging sign for the future of bilateral relations. He stressed that enhanced Pakistan-US ties would benefit not only the peoples of both countries but also contribute to broader peace and prosperity across the region.
On the occasion, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also praised the joint diplomatic efforts, calling the meeting “historic” and significant not only for regional security but for global stability and the world economy.
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