U.S. Vice President Meets Iranian Officials in Switzerland to Advance Nuclear Talks

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar on Sunday at a Swiss resort near Lake Lucerne to expand an interim agreement signed last week. The framework seeks to end fighting in the region and maintain open passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas.

Officials described the session as the start of a 60-day period to settle technical details.

Vance first held talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir. Sharif also met separately with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Mediators from Qatar joined the discussions.

Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, met Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on the sidelines.

A renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, reached Saturday, appeared to be holding. Iranian officials said their priority remains securing an end to all regional conflicts before further nuclear steps. U.S. Central Command said commercial traffic continued through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s military announced a closure.

Vance stated that millions of barrels of oil had moved through the waterway in recent days.

““The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?””

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said implementation of any agreement matters more than its signing. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Iran will not back down from its right to enrich uranium. Vance had been scheduled to arrive Friday, but the meeting was delayed after fighting escalated in Lebanon.