U.S. Secretary of State: Working-Level Talks with Iran to be Held in Switzerland on June 29 or 30

▲ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on June 24 (local time) that working-level talks with Iran to discuss issues such as denuclearization plans will be held in Switzerland on the 29th or 30th of this month.

Secretary Rubio, who is currently on a tour of Gulf nations in the Middle East, met with reporters in Kuwait on that day and stated that the technical negotiation team tasked with implementing the previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) "will reconvene on the 29th or 30th," according to Reuters and AFP.

"They are divided into several thematic working groups. They will return to Switzerland," Rubio said. "The working groups (of both countries) will meet again, and I think it will be on the 30th."

Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi also said during a regular briefing on the same day, "The (working-level) talks are expected to resume next week, likely on Tuesday (the 30th)," while adding, "It could be Monday (the 29th) or Wednesday (July 1)."

Spokesperson Andrabi did not mention which country would host the talks.

Pakistan, along with Qatar, has been serving as a mediator in the signing of the U.S.-Iran MOU and the subsequent working-level negotiations.

Combining the statements from the U.S. and Pakistani sides, it is widely expected that the working-level talks will resume on the 30th of this month in Switzerland, where the first round of working-level talks was held.

Following the signing of the MOU on the 14th, the U.S. and Iran held high-level talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, to discuss the implementation of the agreement, followed by their first round of working-level talks, which concluded on the 23rd.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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