US Vice President Vance postpones trip to Switzerland amid uncertainty over next phase of US-Iran deal | Today’s news
US Vice President JD Vance has postponed a planned trip to Switzerland, where talks on the next steps of the US-Iran deal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East were scheduled for Friday, June 19, AFP reported, citing the White House.
The postponement comes at a time of logistical challenges to the talks and uncertainty over Iran’s participation.
The announcement followed a report by Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel politically linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah, that Iran was delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland due to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on June 18 that he had approved the deal despite reservations, even as the United States lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
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Vice President Vance postponed his trip due to logistical issues surrounding the talks and uncertainty over Iran’s participation.
The upcoming talks aim to address broader issues including Iran’s nuclear program, the lifting of sanctions and the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports and allowed sea traffic as part of the early implementation of the peace deal.
Iran can access a $300 billion reconstruction fund only if it ends its nuclear program, freezes its enriched stockpile and agrees to a strong control regime.
The 60-day negotiating period aims to finalize a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear program, including limits on uranium enrichment and verification mechanisms.
The June 17 signing of the agreement by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian began a 60-day period for talks on broader issues between the two foes, including Iran’s nuclear program.
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But there was uncertainty over the next steps and the two sides, which have had no diplomatic ties since shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution, appeared unlikely to hold a signing ceremony and talks in Switzerland on Friday as previously announced.
“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. The vice president is not leaving tonight,” a White House spokesman said late Thursday. “We look forward to starting technical talks as soon as possible.”
Earlier, Vance told reporters at the White House that he planned to go to Switzerland. but he didn’t know exactly when
“I suspect this weekend, but I’m not sure,” he said of the visit, which was meant to help formally launch the next phase of negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Nothing confirmed: Iran
In Iran, the Tasnim news agency said “nothing has been confirmed” about the Iranian delegation’s trip to Switzerland.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who became supreme leader after his father and longtime Iranian ruler Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war on February 28, said in a written statement that he approved the deal despite having a “different opinion,” without elaborating.
“But I issued my permit because of the commitment” made by officials including Pezheshkian “to protect the rights of the Iranian people.”
In the future, there will be “personal negotiations” with the US, but this “does not mean accepting the enemy’s point of view”, he added.
Read also | Vance on a trip to Iran: “The plan is to go to Switzerland, I don’t know exactly when”
On Friday, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned against any violation of the X deal: “In case of misconduct, breach of contract and overstepping by the other side, we have no doubt that a decisive response will be given to the enemy.”
Iran is generally considered to be the biggest beneficiary of thisinterim agreement between the US and Iranwhile the memorandum of understanding recognizes Iranian control overStrait of Hormuzlifting the US naval blockade, ending sanctions, exemptions for Iranian oil exports and ending the war on all fronts including Lebanon.
Experts believe that the US has not achieved “total surrender”, regime change or major concessions from Iran. Additionally, the MoU recognizes Iran’s right to govern Strait of Hormuz and allows Iran to export oil.
US “conceded” to Iran’s demand: Expert
Pramit Pal Chaudhurihead of the South Asia practice at the Eurasia Group think tank, told LiveMint that the US had “conceded” to Iran’s demand.
“The United States will gain nothing but Trump’s desire to get out of the war,” he said.
Chaudhuri noted that the US was reluctant to use the full force of the US military to force Iran to back down. He also said Trump entered the war believing he would win. However, the US president had no political strategy to win the war, he added.
In case of misconduct, breach of contract and excess of the other party, we have no doubt that a decisive answer will be given to the enemy.
US forces on Thursday lifted their naval blockade of Iranian ports that prevented ships from sailing to or from the Islamic Republic, the US military said, adding that US warships would “remain in the general area”.
