Burgenstock: Inside the Swiss resort where the US-Iran deal will be signed
On Tuesday (June 16), the Swiss foreign ministry asserted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the US-Iran peace agreement will be signed on Friday (June 19) at Burgenstock in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden. The resort is named after the 1,128-metre mountain on which it sits
The US-Iran conflict, which lasted for months, rattling the global economy and claiming lives, is expected to come to an end soon. On Tuesday (June 16), the Swiss Foreign Ministry stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the US-Iran peace agreement, aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia, will be signed on Friday (June 19).
The place chosen to bring the months of hostilities to an end is Burgenstock, a luxury resort in Switzerland's canton of Nidwalden, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs told The National.
“For several days now, the FDFA has been in close contact with the US, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar regarding the possible signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran in Switzerland,” said the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
More from ExplainersThe peace agreement is anticipated to bring a pause to the war for at least 60 days, restoring traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
About Burgenstock:
- Nestled high above Lake Lucerne in the central Swiss canton of Nidwalden, the Burgenstock resort ranks among Switzerland's most exclusive retreats, set amid alpine forests and commanding panoramic mountain views.
- The expansive resort, whose tranquil setting is more often associated with luxury getaways than high-level diplomacy, has welcomed heads of state, business magnates and international summits.
- It is accessible by a combination of boat and funicular railway, adding to its secluded atmosphere. The location is proposed by the Pakistani and Qatari mediators, as well as by the US and Iran.
- The resort hosted the Ukraine peace summit in 2024. It was attended by Arab states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
- Two decades earlier, the resort was the site of the 2002 Burgenstock Agreement, which ended hostilities between Sudan's government and rebels in what later became South Sudan. The truce was brokered with the help of the United States and Switzerland.
- In 2004, Burgenstock hosted talks between Turkey and Greece aimed at reuniting Cyprus before its accession to the European Union, a vision championed by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that ultimately went unfulfilled.
- The resort is named after the 1,128-metre mountain on which it sits. Beyond its political importance, luminaries from Hollywood have also spent time at the resort, which today comprises 30 buildings and complexes housing 67 residences.
- It underwent an extensive nine-year redevelopment by Katara Hospitality, which was completed in 2018.
- Among the key visitors to Burgenstock are former US president Jimmy Carter, German chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Israeli prime ministers David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir.
- Even Actress Audrey Hepburn tied the knot with her first husband, Mel Ferrer, at Burgenstock in 1954, according to reports.
With inputs from agencies
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