White House delays Vance Switzerland trip over Iran talks logistics

The White House announced on Thursday that US Vice President JD Vance will not depart for Switzerland as scheduled, citing unresolved logistical arrangements that have stalled preparations for technical negotiations with Tehran aimed at ending the two-month war. “As of now, the US vice president is not departing tonight,” a spokesperson said. The official noted that planning remains complicated: “As the vice president said at his press conference, 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. But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable.”

Vance cites 'not easy' Iran logistics

Earlier on Thursday, Vance told reporters he still planned to make the trip, though he acknowledged uncertainty about the exact timing. “I plan to go to Switzerland. Exactly when,... I think these technical negotiations are going to start sometime this weekend. That's still the plan. But that could change because it's not an easy country, Iran, to get out of,” he said. The Swiss Foreign Ministry later announced that talks scheduled for Friday at the Bürgenstock in the canton of Nidwalden were cancelled, according to local media reports.

Islamabad memorandum

The delay comes one day after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” which is intended to pave the way for ending the war launched by Washington and Tel Aviv against Iran on Feb. 28. Under the memorandum, the two sides are due to hold negotiations lasting 60 days, with the possibility of an extension, aimed at reaching a final agreement covering Iran’s nuclear program and international sanctions. The US looks forward to beginning technical talks “as soon as possible,” the White House spokesperson added.