Weekend US-Iran Negotiations Postponed, Slowing Vance-Led Diplomatic Push

Efforts by the United States to swiftly launch negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme encountered an early setback after Vice President JD Vance postponed a planned trip to Switzerland, delaying the start of technical talks that were expected to begin this weekend. The development comes just two days after Washington and Tehran signed an agreement establishing a 60-day window for negotiations aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear activities and restoring oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to prewar levels.

Vance, who has been appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the US side of the negotiations, had been scheduled to travel overnight to the Swiss village of Obbürgen, where discussions with Iranian representatives were expected to take place. Preparations for the visit were already underway, with White House officials, advance teams and journalists gathering in Switzerland, while Vance’s staff and members of the press assembled at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington ahead of the anticipated departure.

However, the trip was abruptly called off on Thursday evening. In a statement, the White House said Vance and his delegation remained ready to engage in talks but had been unable to finalise arrangements for the negotiations. The vice president will remain in Washington until a revised schedule is determined. The administration stressed that the complex nature of the discussions meant that planning had always been subject to change and uncertainty.

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The delay followed reports from Al-Mayadeen, a Beirut-based Pan-Arab satellite television channel aligned with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, suggesting that Tehran had postponed sending its delegation to Switzerland. According to the report, the decision was linked to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon, which have intensified in recent days and added further complications to the broader regional situation surrounding the talks.

Violence continued to escalate in Lebanon, with reports indicating that at least 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, while four Israeli soldiers died during fighting in southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would maintain a military presence in a security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect its security interests. Although neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a party to the US-Iran agreement, the conflict has emerged as a significant factor influencing the diplomatic environment.

Even before the postponement was announced, Vance had acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the talks. Speaking to reporters at a White House briefing earlier on Thursday, he said it was still unclear whether negotiations would proceed as planned over the weekend. Despite the setback, both Washington and Tehran remain formally committed to the recently signed framework, and officials on both sides are expected to continue efforts to organise the talks, which are viewed as a critical step toward reducing tensions and advancing a broader diplomatic settlement.

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