US-Iran technical talks to begin after Muharram: FO

The second phase of US-Iran negotiations is expected to begin within days, with Pakistani officials saying technical talks between Washington and Tehran cannot be postponed despite the cancellation of a planned signing ceremony in Switzerland.

Foreign Office officials said the agreement between the United States and Iran has already been signed, removing the need for a separate ceremony and allowing both sides to move toward the next stage of negotiations.

According to Foreign Office officials in Islamabad, the US-Iran technical talks are imminent and cannot be delayed.

Officials said the second phase of negotiations could begin within the next couple of days as both countries move forward with implementing the recently signed agreement.

The second round of broader talks is expected to take place after Muharram, officials added.

Agreement already signed, officials say

Foreign Office officials explained that there was no longer any justification for holding the planned event in Switzerland because the agreement had already been signed.

According to officials, the original plan was for the agreement to be signed in Switzerland by US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

However, the process changed after the agreement was signed at a higher level.

Officials said the agreement’s signing framework was upgraded after US President Donald Trump signed the document. Following Trump’s signature, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also signed the agreement electronically.

Foreign Office sources said this development elevated the level of participation and effectively removed the need for the previously planned Swiss signing ceremony.