U.S.-Iran Talks in Switzerland Will Not Take Place: What We Know
19 June 15:07
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on a comprehensive peace agreement, scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, near Lucerne, will not take place, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. At the meeting, the parties were to discuss the terms of a permanent ceasefire, reports "Komersant Ukrainian", citing DW.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry, as quoted by the publication, says that the talks have been “postponed.” It also notes that Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks, and the relevant preparatory work is ongoing.
The resort was preparing for the talks
Until late in the evening on June 18, the Swiss side expected that talks in Bürgenstock would begin, at least at a technical level. Representatives were expected there not only from the U.S. and Iran, but also from the mediating countries—Qatar and Pakistan. The hotel complex on the mountain near Lake Vierwaldstättersee is owned by a subsidiary of the Qatari sovereign wealth fund.
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Guests who had booked rooms at the complex’s five- and four-star hotels were asked to check out. They were accommodated at other hotels in the region.
White House Statement
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance canceled his participation in the meeting near Lucernethe day before . He had been scheduled to discuss the implementation of the 14-point framework agreement with Iranian negotiators, a White House spokesperson said on the evening of June 18.
Vance and the U.S. delegation were ready to depart for Switzerland as soon as the details of the talks were finalized. A U.S. administration spokesperson noted, however, that the logistics of these talks had never been simple or predictable.
The Iranian side set conditions
The Iranian government has not yet responded to the cancellation of the talks. Tehran expressed its readiness for technical talks after the U.S. and Iran extended their fragile truce for at least 60 days as part of the framework agreement.
However, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported as early as June 18 that, before the next rounds of talks begin, Iranian negotiators want to see signs that the U.S. is implementing the memorandum. The agency also noted that there is no confirmation yet that the Iranian delegation will travel to Geneva.
On June 15, U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a framework agreement that extends the ceasefire announced in April and provides, among other things, for the reopening of the blocked Strait of Hormuz. A 60-day deadline was set for the next round of negotiations.
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