US-Iran talks in Switzerland called off days after peace deal signing
Switzerland's foreign ministry said discussions scheduled at the Burgenstock resort won't take place. US Vice President JD Vance was set to meet Iranian negotiators for talks on implementing a 14-point peace agreement signed earlier this week.
Talks planned between the United States and Iran in Switzerland on Friday to begin implementing their newly signed peace agreement have been abruptly cancelled, adding fresh uncertainty to efforts to end the months-long conflict in West Asia.
Switzerland's foreign ministry said discussions scheduled at the Burgenstock resort would not take place, per Reuters. The announcement came hours after the White House said US Vice President JD Vance had delayed a planned trip to Switzerland.
Vance had been expected to meet Iranian negotiators to launch talks on implementing a 14-point agreement signed earlier this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian. The accord, aimed at ending the war between the two countries, took effect immediately and extended the ceasefire while giving both sides 60 days to negotiate technical details.
The cancellation also follows disagreement over a proposed formal signing ceremony in Geneva. US officials had said such a ceremony would be held, but Iran's foreign ministry questioned the need for it, noting that both presidents had already signed the agreement.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Vance said Washington remained committed to carrying out its obligations under the deal.
"We're committed to implementing our side" of the agreement, Vance said, adding that the 60-day implementation period began on Thursday.
The diplomatic wrangling has raised questions about the durability of a truce intended to halt a conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, disrupted energy markets and rattled the global economy.
Complicating the situation further, Israel has continued military operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Israel was not part of the US-Iran negotiations and has publicly distanced itself from the agreement.
The continued fighting has fuelled doubts about whether the broader ceasefire framework can hold.
The deal has also drawn criticism in Washington. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned whether Trump conceded too much to secure an end to a war that has become increasingly unpopular among Americans.
Before the conflict ended, Trump had repeatedly said the war would conclude only with Iran's "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER." The final agreement, however, provides sanctions relief, releases tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and grants waivers allowing Iran to resume oil exports.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Trump signed the agreement "out of desperation" and warned that negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program would be difficult.
"If the American side wants to be too demanding, we will not accept it," Khamenei said in a written message.
Under the agreement, negotiators have 60 days to reach a framework governing Iran's nuclear program unless both sides agree to extend the deadline. The deal also establishes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran and includes other economic incentives.
Trump had justified the war by saying it would eliminate Iran's nuclear ambitions, curb its ability to threaten neighbouring countries, weaken support for anti-Israel militant groups and create conditions for political change inside Iran.
The agreement falls short of many of those objectives.
Iran reiterated its longstanding position that it will not seek or develop nuclear weapons. It also agreed to onsite down-blending of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency under its obligations as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
However, Tehran rejected a key US demand that the uranium be removed from the country, ensuring that one of the most contentious issues will remain at the crux of negotiations in the weeks ahead.
Talks planned between the United States and Iran in Switzerland on Friday to begin implementing their newly signed peace agreement have been abruptly cancelled, adding fresh uncertainty to efforts to end the months-long conflict in West Asia.
Switzerland's foreign ministry said discussions scheduled at the Burgenstock resort would not take place, per Reuters. The announcement came hours after the White House said US Vice President JD Vance had delayed a planned trip to Switzerland.
Vance had been expected to meet Iranian negotiators to launch talks on implementing a 14-point agreement signed earlier this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian. The accord, aimed at ending the war between the two countries, took effect immediately and extended the ceasefire while giving both sides 60 days to negotiate technical details.
The cancellation also follows disagreement over a proposed formal signing ceremony in Geneva. US officials had said such a ceremony would be held, but Iran's foreign ministry questioned the need for it, noting that both presidents had already signed the agreement.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Vance said Washington remained committed to carrying out its obligations under the deal.
"We're committed to implementing our side" of the agreement, Vance said, adding that the 60-day implementation period began on Thursday.
The diplomatic wrangling has raised questions about the durability of a truce intended to halt a conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, disrupted energy markets and rattled the global economy.
Complicating the situation further, Israel has continued military operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Israel was not part of the US-Iran negotiations and has publicly distanced itself from the agreement.
The continued fighting has fuelled doubts about whether the broader ceasefire framework can hold.
The deal has also drawn criticism in Washington. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned whether Trump conceded too much to secure an end to a war that has become increasingly unpopular among Americans.
Before the conflict ended, Trump had repeatedly said the war would conclude only with Iran's "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER." The final agreement, however, provides sanctions relief, releases tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and grants waivers allowing Iran to resume oil exports.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Trump signed the agreement "out of desperation" and warned that negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program would be difficult.
"If the American side wants to be too demanding, we will not accept it," Khamenei said in a written message.
Under the agreement, negotiators have 60 days to reach a framework governing Iran's nuclear program unless both sides agree to extend the deadline. The deal also establishes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran and includes other economic incentives.
Trump had justified the war by saying it would eliminate Iran's nuclear ambitions, curb its ability to threaten neighbouring countries, weaken support for anti-Israel militant groups and create conditions for political change inside Iran.
The agreement falls short of many of those objectives.
Iran reiterated its longstanding position that it will not seek or develop nuclear weapons. It also agreed to onsite down-blending of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency under its obligations as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
However, Tehran rejected a key US demand that the uranium be removed from the country, ensuring that one of the most contentious issues will remain at the crux of negotiations in the weeks ahead.
