Switzerland Meeting Canceled, US-Iran Talks in Doubt
Preparations for the talks at the Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock were nearly complete.
A planned meeting between US and Iranian representatives in Switzerland on Friday was canceled, creating fresh uncertainty over the timeline of peace negotiations. The talks were intended to help transform a memorandum of understanding signed to halt more than three months of war into a permanent peace agreement.
The negotiations could become even more complicated as fighting escalates again in Lebanon. Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah fighters, and Lebanese authorities said at least 18 people were killed. Israel said four of its soldiers were killed in one of the deadliest attacks carried out by the Iran-backed group.
The memorandum signed earlier this week by the US and Iranian presidents postponed discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and other contentious issues to future negotiations. Both sides were given 60 days either to reach a permanent agreement or extend the interim deal.
Preparations for the talks at the Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock were nearly complete. However, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that US Vice President JD Vance canceled plans to attend the meeting on Thursday. Earlier that day, sources in Tehran said Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, would also not participate.
Beyond unresolved issues, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could further complicate efforts to secure a lasting agreement. Under the terms of the interim deal, the United States, Iran, and their allies are required to immediately and permanently halt military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon. Israel, which was not included in the negotiations, has made clear that it is not a party to the agreement. Although violence in Lebanon eased earlier this week, it has since intensified again.
Switzerland Announces Suspension of Talks
The war, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, has killed at least 7,000 people, most of them in Iran and Lebanon.
The conflict has pushed up global energy prices, although oil prices have eased somewhat this week. The resumption of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has raised hopes of increased oil supplies to international markets.
After the agreement extended the fragile ceasefire for at least 60 days this week, Iran said it was ready to begin negotiations. A White House spokesperson said Thursday night that JD Vance and the US delegation were prepared to depart as soon as plans for the talks were finalized.
“The logistics of discussions like these are never simple or entirely predictable,” the statement said.
Iranian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry said the talks had been postponed for the time being but emphasized that Switzerland remains committed to facilitating the negotiations. Preparatory work for the discussions is continuing.
US officials had proposed holding a formal signing ceremony for the agreement in Switzerland. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry questioned the need for such an event, arguing that both presidents had already signed the deal and no additional ceremony was necessary.
Political Criticism Emerges in Washington
In Washington, some Republican allies of President Donald Trump in Congress have questioned whether he offered Iran excessive concessions in an effort to end the war before November’s midterm elections. In March, Trump had pledged that the conflict would not end without Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
Under the memorandum, however, economic sanctions on Iran are being eased. Hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen assets are being released, and US restrictions on Iranian oil exports are being lifted immediately.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Trump had signed the agreement out of desperation. He also suggested that upcoming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program would be difficult, noting that the issue was one of the primary justifications for the war.
“If the American side seeks to impose excessive demands, we will not accept them,” Khamenei said.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council also insisted that no flexibility would be shown unless the country’s full rights are guaranteed.
Under the terms of the agreement, negotiators have 60 days to determine the future of Iran’s nuclear program and secure a $300 billion reconstruction fund and other financial incentives for Iran, unless the interim deal is extended. JD Vance has also said Washington will seek restrictions on Iran’s long-range missile program.
The growing financial burden of the war has also come into focus. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon has informed Congress that it urgently needs $80 billion to cover war-related expenses and other associated costs.
Despite the challenges, US officials maintain that the negotiations could still produce a strong agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, one they say would be more effective than the landmark 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from during his first term.
BBC: Reuters (Adapted)
