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Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone call Friday to discuss regional developments and the accelerating diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, the two officials welcomed encouraging progress toward an understanding between Washington and Tehran. During the conversation, Cassis praised Pakistan's role in facilitating diplomatic engagement and its efforts to support peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Both ministers agreed to remain closely engaged as negotiations continue to advance. The call came amid growing expectations that a formal agreement could be signed in Geneva within days.
Switzerland has offered to host a potential signing ceremony for the agreement, according to the Swiss Foreign Ministry.
"Switzerland is fully engaged. We are in close contact with the United States and Iran," the ministry told AFP, adding that it is actively supporting efforts toward a memorandum of understanding designed to strengthen the truce and promote de-escalation between the two countries.
The ministry also confirmed that Switzerland has proposed serving as the venue for a possible signing if both sides agree.
Reports suggest Geneva could host the signing ceremony as early as Sunday, with preparations underway ahead of a possible visit by Vice President JD Vance for the event. However, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, citing a source close to Tehran's negotiating team, rejected those reports and said no timetable has been announced.
The diplomatic momentum follows remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Thursday that Washington and Tehran had reached a "great settlement" and could sign an agreement as soon as this weekend.
A senior Trump administration official later told reporters that the United States expects an agreement to be signed within the next few days. "We do expect to be signing this agreement over the next few days," the official said, estimating the chances of completion at between 80% and 85%.
Negotiators are still weighing potential venues for the signing, with both Pakistani and Qatari mediators expected to be represented.
The proposed agreement would dismantle Iran's nuclear program, require the destruction and transfer of enriched uranium, and allow Tehran to maintain a civilian nuclear energy program under agreed conditions.
It is also envisioned as part of a broader regional peace framework involving Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Gulf states, while providing Tehran with phased sanctions relief if it complies with its commitments.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Tehran has reached understandings on most of the issues under discussion and is carrying out final internal reviews of the proposed agreement.
"At present, understanding has been reached on the majority of the issues, and we are in the final stage of internal reviews," Baghaei stated on state television.
He noted that meetings involving relevant Iranian institutions were underway to determine Tehran's final position and maintained that an agreement could have been reached earlier if negotiations had not been delayed by changing U.S. positions and new demands.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the proposed "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" as closer than ever to completion, saying the agreement between Tehran and Washington "has never been closer" while urging media outlets to avoid speculation until the process is finalized.
Pakistan has played a central role in the diplomatic process since brokering a ceasefire on April 8 that halted hostilities between the United States and Iran following a conflict that began on Feb. 28.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Friday that negotiators had agreed on the "final text" of a proposed pact and were working to finalize the remaining steps needed to complete the process.
Posting on X, Sharif stated that Islamabad was "working closely" with both Washington and Tehran to move the agreement forward. He called the prospect of peace between the two countries closer than ever during the current mediation effort.
Sharif also warned against "an incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal" as negotiations approach their final stage.
The Pakistan-mediated talks have focused on ending hostilities between Iran and the United States, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic and reaching consensus on Iran's nuclear program.
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