Switzerland said talks between the United States and Iran on a pact to end the Middle East conflict would not take place on Friday, as US Vice President JD Vance dropped plans to travel to Geneva.
The talks were set to take place under the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ signed between the US and Iran a day ago, after the two sides agreed on a 14-point accord on Monday. Under the deal, Washington and Tehran have agreed on a framework to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate on key issues within 60 days.
The talks, set for the mountaintop resort of Burgenstock, would not take place, Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed, but gave no details.
“The planned talks between the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed,” the Swiss foreign ministry said in a message to AFP.
“Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks. The relevant preparatory work at Burgenstock is continuing,” it added, without providing a new date for the talks.
In Washington, a White House spokesperson said, “The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president is not departing tonight.”
However, the official added, “We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”
There was no immediate response from Iran, which had earlier said it was ready to begin technical talks after Thursday’s 14-point accord extended a tenuous ceasefire by at least 60 days.
Iran’s negotiators first needed to see signs of the US implementing the interim deal, and there was no confirmation its delegation would travel to Geneva, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said before Vance’s Thursday announcement.
Vance and the US delegation had been ready to depart as soon as plans were finalised.
On Thursday, the US vice president had hinted at plans being unconfirmed, saying: “We think these technical negotiations are going to start sometime this weekend. That’s still the plan, but that could change.”
