Zurich: Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has welcomed his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to Switzerland in a post on X, as Tehran and Washington opened four-way talks with mediators Pakistan and Qatar. 'Welcome to Switzerland, H.E. Abbas Araghchi,' the Swiss foreign minister wrote in his social media post, where he stressed that the two countries' longstanding relationship would continue to serve diplomacy and peace in the Middle East. 'At the Lake Lucerne Summit, we offer the framework for discussion and dialogue,' he added. 'In a challenging context, the relationship of trust between Switzerland and Iran, reflected in our protecting power mandate, remains in the service of diplomacy and for peace and security in the Middle East,' Cassis concluded.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, a photo accompanying the post showed Araghchi and Cassis in conversation on the sidelines of the Lake Lucerne Summit at Brgenstock, Switzerland, with the flags of Iran, Switzerland, the United States, Qatar, Pakistan, and other participating countries visible in the background. The Iranian delegation arrived at Zurich Airport at around 10 p.m. local time Saturday, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also heads the negotiating team. Accompanying Ghalibaf were Foreign Minister Araghchi, Ali Bagheri, the Deputy for International Affairs at the Supreme National Security Council Secretariat; Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran; Hamid Bovard, the Deputy Oil Minister and CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company; Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs; and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei.

On the American side, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, advisor to US President Donald Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance are present in Switzerland to join the talks. Mediating countries are also actively engaged in the process.