WANA (Jun 21) – The four-party meeting involving delegations from Iran, the United States, Qatar, and Pakistan, known as the “Lake Lucerne Meeting,” began on Sunday afternoon in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. The talks drew attention from the outset after the Iranian delegation declined to participate in a planned joint photo session and media event.

 

The Iranian delegation is headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance leads the American team. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are participating as the heads of the Pakistani and Qatari delegations, serving as mediators and facilitators in the negotiations.

 

According to a source familiar with the talks, organizers and the U.S. side had planned a joint photo opportunity, including a handshake between the Iranian and American delegations, before the start of the meeting. However, the head of the Iranian delegation and members of the negotiating team rejected the proposal and informed organizers that they would not take part in any joint media appearance with the U.S. delegation.

The source said that following Iran’s refusal, the live broadcast and photo session proceeded without the Iranian delegation. Iranian representatives entered the venue only after the media event had concluded.

 

The source also revealed that the U.S. delegation requested a brief delay to allow journalists and camera crews to leave the meeting room. The Iranian delegation joined the talks only after media representatives had exited the venue.

 

Journalists present in Geneva reported that the Iranian side sought to avoid what it viewed as a media spectacle surrounding the negotiations and instead wanted discussions to remain focused on substantive issues and the practical implementation of any potential understanding. For this reason, Iranian officials reportedly insisted that the talks proceed without extensive media presence.

 

Before the formal start of the meeting, J.D. Vance, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani were already present in the conference room.

 

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei outlined the format of the negotiations, describing them as a one-day diplomatic effort. According to Baghaei, the morning was dedicated to bilateral meetings between the Iranian delegation and the Pakistani and Qatari mediators, while the afternoon session was scheduled as a four-party meeting involving Iran and the United States, with Qatar and Pakistan participating in the same room as facilitators.

 

Iran’s decision to avoid a joint media appearance with the United States comes amid Tehran’s repeated insistence that negotiations should be judged by their practical outcomes rather than symbolic gestures or publicity-driven images. As a result, the opening of the Lucerne talks without a joint photograph and behind closed doors has been widely viewed as an early indication of Iran’s cautious approach in this round of negotiations.