Vance says threats failed to derail US-Iran negotiations
Key Takeaways
- JD Vance said Iran threatened to walk out but negotiations continued into the early hours.
- US and Iranian officials met in Switzerland with Qatar and Pakistan serving as mediators.
- Both sides are working toward a final agreement under the framework of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding.
US vice president says talks continued into the early hours despite walkout threats as negotiators push toward a final agreement
US Vice President JD Vance said negotiations between Washington and Tehran remained on track despite threats by Iran to leave the talks, describing the latest round of discussions as tense but productive.
Speaking to reporters in Burgenstock on Monday, Vance was asked whether comments made by US President Donald Trump had disrupted negotiations.
"Did the president's threats yesterday really throw a wrench in negotiations? There were reports that the Iranians walked out at one point. Can you just clarify and tell us what happened?" he was asked.
"No, they didn't throw a wrench in the system. The thing with the Iranians, yes, they did threaten to walk out, or at least there were social media threats that they would walk out. But we were negotiating well past one in the morning yesterday, so they didn't walk out," he went on.
"So, yes, there was a little bit of threatening. There was a little bit of whining. But at the end of the day, the talks continued and we made great progress."
The comments came after discussions involving US and Iranian delegations, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators. Iran's team was led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
The negotiations are part of efforts to turn last week's Memorandum of Understanding into a final agreement within a 60-day timeframe.
Earlier in the day, Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again following continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, amid renewed accusations between Hezbollah and Israel over violations of the latest ceasefire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks had produced significant results.
"Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War," he posted on social media.
"Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction and development plan launched for Iran."
The United States and Iran reached a Memorandum of Understanding last week, setting a 60-day period for negotiations aimed at securing a final deal.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
