Iran’s diplomatic team has touched down in Switzerland to begin implementing a memorandum of understanding with the United States, the Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed. The arrival marks the first face-to-face phase of a deal that was signed electronically on June 17.
The MoU, signed through mediators on June 17, 2026, establishes a 60-day framework for both sides to negotiate a comprehensive agreement. That window is extendable. The core focus is establishing a cessation of military initiatives, particularly operations affecting the Strait of Hormuz. For context, roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through that narrow waterway.
Iran’s delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, joined by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The US side is represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff. The talks are being hosted at the Bürgenstock resort. Initial meetings reportedly faced postponement due to logistical issues, though the delegation’s arrival signals that those hurdles have been cleared, at least for now.
Washington and Tehran haven’t had direct diplomatic relations since 1980, so Switzerland has long served as the go-between, representing US interests in Iran through its embassy in Tehran. The electronic signing of the MoU on June 17 was itself a notable diplomatic maneuver, bypassing the need for both parties to be in the same room just to get the framework on paper.
