US-Iran talks set for Friday in Switzerland: Swiss foreign ministry

Switzerland's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that the United States and Iran will hold talks in Switzerland on Friday with mediators.

The ministry said the talks are scheduled to take place in Burgenstock, Switzerland, and mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, and other relevant countries will participate in these initial negotiations to discuss the implementation of the U.S.-Iran peace deal.

Also on Thursday, Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted informed sources as saying that the Iranian delegation's trip to Switzerland had not been finalized.

If it is confirmed that the Iranian delegation will go to Switzerland, further details will be released, according to the informed sources.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV also quoted sources as saying that, due to the ongoing Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, the Iranian negotiating team has postponed its trip to Switzerland.

Furthermore, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar confirmed to local media on Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had canceled his planned visit to Switzerland.

Dar said that the United States and Iran had already signed a memorandum of understanding remotely, and Shehbaz, as a mediator, had also signed.

Therefore, the signing ceremony originally scheduled for Friday in Switzerland has been canceled, Dar said.

The U.S. dollar strengthened in late trading on Thursday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, gained 0.75 percent to 100.846 at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT).

In late New York trading, the euro declined to 1.1459 dollars from 1.1539 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound decreased to 1.3203 dollars from 1.3338 dollars in the previous session.

The U.S. dollar bought 161.68 Japanese yen, higher than 160.50 Japanese yen in the previous session. The U.S. dollar was up to 0.8051 Swiss francs from 0.7971 Swiss francs, and it rose to 1.4140 Canadian dollars from 1.4071 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar added to 9.5874 Swedish Kronor from 9.4610 Swedish Kronor.