Islamabad Emerges as Leading Candidate for Upcoming US-Iran Negotiations on July 11

• Technical talks slated for July 11 with Iran focusing on nuclear issues and sanctions relief
• Both nations exchange sharp rhetoric during Khamenei’s funeral period
• Iranian officials warn against foreign military presence in Strait of Hormuz
• Ghalibaf rejects Trump’s assertions about post-war food trade arrangements

WASHINGTON — Islamabad is emerging as the leading venue for the next round of technical negotiations between the United States and Iran, diplomatic sources told Dawn.

The resumption of talks is part of ongoing efforts to sustain the diplomatic process and resolve longstanding disputes between Washington and Tehran.

“There are two possible venues for the technical talks — Islamabad and the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland,” one diplomatic source stated. “Islamabad, however, is the more likely option.”

Technical discussions are expected to take place on July 11, though a final venue decision remains pending.

According to diplomatic sources, negotiations will address Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and frozen Iranian assets abroad. The talks are also anticipated to tackle regional security, including stability in the Strait of Hormuz and the recently agreed Lebanon ceasefire.

The July 11 meeting aims to advance the framework established under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed two weeks ago, which grants both sides 60 days to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and related issues.

The talks were temporarily delayed due to multi-day state funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials have indicated that details of Tehran’s delegation will be announced after the funerals conclude.

The latest diplomatic efforts follow indirect technical discussions held in Doha earlier this week. US President Donald Trump described those talks as “very good,” while Iranian officials claimed both sides reached an understanding on partial release of billions in frozen assets. US officials, however, reportedly disputed such an agreement.

Diplomatic sources noted mediators from Qatar and Pakistan continued facilitating indirect contacts during the negotiation pause, with discussions focusing on navigation rights through the Strait of Hormuz and preserving the June ceasefire in Lebanon.

The most recent high-level negotiations at Switzerland’s Burgenstock resort — mediated by Qatar and Pakistan — produced a roadmap for broader agreement covering Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, maritime security, and regional de-escalation. Marathon sessions addressed nuclear restrictions, sanctions relief, Strait security, and Lebanon ceasefire provisions. While negotiators reported progress, they cautioned the process remains fragile amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Officials familiar with negotiations said the next high-level direct talks are expected in Doha during the third week of July, following technical teams’ completion of potential agreement details.

US, Iran exchange sharp rhetoric

During Khamenei’s funeral, Washington and Tehran exchanged pointed statements. At an Independence Day event at Mount Rushmore, President Trump mocked the funeral, saying Washington had “given Iran a week off for a funeral because we’re nice.” He added, “We beat Venezuela in one day, and we knocked the hell out of Iran. They are dying to settle; they want to settle so badly.”

Simultaneously, Iran’s foreign ministry declared Tehran would pursue justice against the US and Israel, calling it an “enduring cause” and noting international attendance at the late supreme leader’s farewell as evidence of his stature and the Iranian people’s greatness.

The IRGC Navy commander stated “divine retribution” against the US and Israel was “not far off,” pledging to continue the late leader’s path “with strength and steadfastness.”

Strait of Hormuz security warnings

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi issued a strong warning against military activity by “extra-regional powers” in the Strait of Hormuz, demanding full accountability for tension creation.

“The Strait of Hormuz is not a theater for the military display of extra-regional powers,” Gharibabadi stated in a post on X.

“Iran, as the responsible power and guarantor of the Strait’s security, warns against any military movement in this waterway with the utmost seriousness,” he added.

Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected US President Trump’s recent claims about agricultural trade during a CNBC interview. Trump suggested Iran might purchase food from the US in exchange for peace, assertions Tehran denied.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf dismissed the claims: “Imagine having 40-something million of your own citizens on food stamps and calling another nation hungry.”

He further stated Washington must recognize “realities have changed” following the Israeli-US conflict against Iran, noting improved conditions and post-war developments requiring acceptance of “existing realities.”

“Conditions have improved compared to the past,” Ghalibaf said during a meeting with Uzbekistan’s parliamentary speaker. “In such an environment, trade relations can be expanded further, and we hope groundwork for lifting sanctions will also be prepared.”

Ghalibaf added that joint Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz management with Oman — and reduced American interference — would create better prospects for transit cooperation.

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