US-Iran talks scheduled for Friday cancelled: Swiss ministry

The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced early Friday that the US‑Iran talks scheduled for the day have been cancelled. “The discussion at Bürgenstock will not take place as planned today. Consequently, the meeting announced yesterday is cancelled,” the ministry said. The announcement came shortly after the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not depart for Switzerland on Thursday, as logistical details for expected technical talks with Iran remained unresolved.

Islamabad Memorandum signed

On Wednesday evening, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” aimed at ending the war that began on February 28. Under the deal, Iran was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately, while the US would lift its naval blockade, according to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also signed as mediator. The cancellation of Friday’s talks raises questions about the implementation timeline of the memorandum.

Next steps

No new date has been announced for the resumption of technical talks. The cancellation may reflect unresolved issues regarding the sequencing of Iranian sanctions relief, nuclear verification, and the reopening of the strait. For Türkiye, which has welcomed the memorandum as a step toward regional stability, the postponement is a source of concern. Ankara has urged both sides to resolve logistical issues quickly and implement the agreement to restore energy flows through the Gulf.