Diplomats hold US-Iran preparatory discussions at Swiss retreat

Diplomats from several countries met Saturday at a Swiss retreat to maintain dialogue on the preliminary US-Iran deal to halt the Middle East war, Bern said.

The Swiss foreign ministry said discussions were underway at the luxury Burgenstock resort near Lucerne, though senior-level talks originally planned for Friday were called off after Israel carried out deadly strikes in southern Lebanon.

What is happening at the Swiss talks on the US-Iran deal?

A diplomatic source told AFP the discussions underway Saturday were preparatory in nature. Swiss public broadcaster RTS said technical delegations from the United States and Iran, along with mediators Qatar and Pakistan, were present.

"Switzerland continues to provide a discreet and reliable setting to facilitate talks at Burgenstock on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran," the foreign ministry said in a brief statement, adding that "no further information can be provided regarding those present or the discussions."

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff was traveling to Switzerland for technical talks with his Iranian counterpart, a U.S. official said.

Why were the senior-level talks in Switzerland postponed?

Israel carried out deadly strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, and Hezbollah maintained it had the right to respond, hours after the United States announced a renewed ceasefire in fighting that had strained the fledgling deal with Iran.

President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary agreement earlier this week to halt the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, but follow-up talks scheduled for Friday at Burgenstock were indefinitely postponed as fresh fighting flared.

Iran declared there was "no urgency" for immediate talks following the postponement, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

What role has Qatar played in the Swiss talks?

Katara Hospitality, owned by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, took over the Burgenstock complex in 2007.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said late Friday that he had met with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the resort, where the two "exchanged views on recent regional developments following the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran."

Cassis wrote on X: "As countries that place great importance on mediation, dialogue and good offices, Switzerland and Qatar share a strong commitment to supporting diplomatic solutions to international challenges."

He thanked Qatar for its mediation efforts and reaffirmed Switzerland's readiness to support initiatives aimed at de-escalation, stability, and lasting peace.