Vice President JD Vance Leads Negotiations with Iran in Switzerland

Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland early Sunday to spearhead new negotiations with Iran, focusing on a lasting agreement following a recently signed ceasefire. Vance reached Switzerland shortly before 6 a.m. local time, joining White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, for the discussions.

Swiss officials confirmed the arrival of the Iranian delegation on Saturday, stating they were headed to Bürgenstock for the talks. Originally scheduled for Friday, the negotiations with the U.S., Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan were postponed per Switzerland’s foreign ministry.

Vice President JD Vance addresses reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, before departing for Switzerland.

Joining the talks is Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The negotiations follow President Trump’s signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran at the G7 summit hosted at the Palace of Versailles. This agreement established a 60-day ceasefire and a framework for broader talks aimed at resolving the conflict.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump warned that the U.S. might impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz if the negotiations fail to create a lasting agreement before the ceasefire expires.

Before leaving Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Vance emphasized the importance of laying down a solid framework for the negotiations. He mentioned, “Getting the actual structure of negotiations in place is paramount. We’ll have a principal level of political leadership at the top, with the technical team remaining on ground.”

JD Vance is expected to stay in Switzerland for one or two days. He previewed key topics for the discussions: nuclear issues and the Lebanon ceasefire. He acknowledged that Iranians had their own issues to discuss.

Despite renewed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, Vance noted improvements in Lebanon’s conditions. “Things are getting better despite the sporadic violence,” he said. The aim is to maintain the ceasefire and prevent escalation. “Stopping the shooting long enough to stabilize the ceasefire is crucial,” stated Vance.

Meanwhile, Pakistan announced the participation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in technical-level talks in Switzerland.