US Vice President JD Vance will not travel to Switzerland for talks with Iranian negotiators, the White House said in a statement on Thursday, citing logistical issues.
“The plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the US delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity,” said the statement from Washington regarding Vance’s cancellation.
“But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the Vice President is not departing tonight,” it added.
The announcement comes hours after Iran reportedly canceled its own delegation’s flight, citing continued attacks by Israel on Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Hezbollah-affiliated news outlet Al Mayadeen, citing a source familiar with the matter.
According to the source, Iran warned US mediators that the issue of Lebanon is central to its ability to hold, continue, or halt negotiations.
Any Israeli attack more than 10 kilometers deep in Lebanon would constitute “a clear violation of the first article in the Memorandum of Understanding,” Al Mayadeen reported.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which institutes a ceasefire between the US and Iran, would be signed in Switzerland on Friday, June 19.
Later, however, it was revealed that the deal had already been signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in France on Thursday.
US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf digitally signed the agreement, with Trump witnessing the signing, according to a US official.
Friday’s planned meeting was meant to kickstart negotiations, primarily nuclear-related, as outlined in the MoU. However, with the likely absence of both sets of negotiators, it is unclear to what extent progress in talks will be made.
Reuters contributed to this report.
