Swiss officials announced Friday that scheduled follow-up negotiations aimed at finalizing a peace agreement to end the Middle East war have been delayed. The postponement came shortly after the White House called off U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s planned departure to the country.
The landmark accord signed earlier this week was designed to halt the war with Iran, reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and establish a 60-day window for broader diplomatic discussions, specifically targeting Tehran’s nuclear program.
While the agreement was also meant to stop hostilities in Lebanon, the Israeli military reported launching fresh airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Friday.
The Swiss diplomatic corps confirmed the setback but maintained that logistical arrangements are still moving forward behind the scenes.
”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.
The delay follows a late Thursday briefing from Washington confirming that Vice President Vance would no longer travel to the summit.
”logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable.”
”We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, uncertainty shrouded Tehran’s participation even before the official delay. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that “nothing has been confirmed” regarding the departure of the Iranian delegation to Switzerland.
The core peace treaty was signed independently by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Following the signing, the United States lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei—who assumed power after his predecessor, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike on the opening day of the war—publicly endorsed the deal despite expressing personal doubts.
”different view”
”But I issued my permission due to the commitment” made by officials including Pezeshkian to “protect the rights of the Iranian nation”.
”Face-to-face negotiations” with the United States will be held in the future, but that does not “mean accepting the enemy’s point of view”, he added.
Despite the diplomatic opening, Iranian officials signaled that their compliance depends entirely on strict adherence to the terms.
On Friday, Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a stern warning, stating that Tehran would deliver a “decisive” response if the newly minted peace agreement is violated by any party.