US-Iran nuclear talks to resume July 11 in Pakistan

Negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled to resume on July 11 in Pakistan, according to Al Arabiya, as the two countries prepare to tackle unresolved issues over sanctions, frozen Iranian assets, and Tehran's nuclear program.global.chinadaily+2

Diplomacy Paused for Khamenei's Funeral

The announcement comes as Iran has entered a week of public mourning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes earlier this year. His dayslong funeral began in Tehran on Saturday, with millions of mourners expected to attend ceremonies stretching from the capital to the holy city of Mashhad, where he will be buried on Thursday. The US agreed to pause negotiations during the funeral period.nytimes+4

Tehran's delegation for the July 11 round is expected to be formally named after the funeral concludes. The talks will mark the first direct engagement since technical discussions were held in Doha, which President Trump described as "very good". According to Iranian officials at the time, the sides agreed on a partial release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds, though US officials reportedly denied any such understanding was reached.timesofisrael

Stakes of the Next Round

The upcoming session falls within a 60-day window established by a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, in which the US and Iran agreed to negotiate a final deal covering Iran's nuclear program, the lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction funding. Under the interim agreement brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iran was permitted to resume oil exports and the US waived certain sanctions, while questions of enriched uranium stockpiles and permanent sanctions removal were deferred to formal negotiations.apnews+1

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran's chief negotiator, has publicly urged the US to accept what he calls a "new reality" as a precondition for any lasting sanctions agreement. His position remains secure domestically despite challenges from ultraconservative lawmakers who accuse him of conceding too much. The Wall Street Journal News Corp ↗ 2.48% reported that rhetorical escalations from both sides have complicated the diplomatic process, with Trump's social media threats against Iran clashing with the delicate nature of the talks.iranintl+3