Key facts
- Switzerland is hosting US-Iran talks at Bürgenstock.
- The discussions aim to facilitate the implementation of a memorandum of understanding.
- The Swiss foreign ministry cited confidentiality and declined to identify participants or reveal talk content.
- Mediators from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are expected to attend related discussions.
- A reported deal between the U.S. and Qatar could unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds for humanitarian purchases.
Switzerland continues to provide a "discreet and reliable setting" at Bürgenstock to facilitate discussions on implementing a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, the Swiss foreign ministry said on Saturday. The ministry added in a statement that no further details would be disclosed about participants and the content of the talks, citing confidentiality. Mediators including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are reportedly due to gather for talks. The U.S. and Qatar are planning to unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian funds for the purchase of humanitarian goods, according to reports. The deal would allow Iran to access $6 billion currently held in Qatar for food, medicine, and other humanitarian items, made by Iran's central bank with cash from oil sales frozen overseas by sanctions. Senior Iranian sources described how the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was uniquely positioned to capture a large share of any financial rewards that would accrue from sanctions relief.