Vice President J.D. Vance speaks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Md., en path to Switzerland on June 20, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have been among the many prime leaders who reached Switzerland on Sunday (June 21, 2026) for high-level talks geared toward restoring peace in West Asia.
Mr. Vance arrived on Sunday morning (June 21), whereas different U.S. negotiators — together with envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner — have been already there.
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“My understanding, speaking to Jared and Steve this (Saturday) morning, is issues are going nicely,” Mr. Vance instructed Fox Information earlier than departing.
The Iranian delegation is being led by Mr. Ghalibaf, in response to the state-run IRNA information company.
It additional stated in a report, “Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Secretary of the Supreme Nationwide Safety Council Ali Bagheri Kani, and Central Financial institution of Iran Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati are additionally a part of the delegation.” Pakistan PM Sharif additionally landed in Zurich on Sunday (June 21), accompanied by Military chief Asim Munir and different delegates.
“Pakistan will proceed to facilitate the method in its function as mediator, with a view to advancing the understandings reached below the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” its Overseas Workplace stated in an announcement on Saturday (June 20, 2026).
IRNA additionally reported {that a} assembly between Mr. Araghchi and his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis occurred on Sunday (June 21).
Negotiators from Qatar can even take part within the assembly, in response to an official assertion.
U..S President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian final week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which marked the start of a 60-day negotiation window to revive peace in West Asia. Key mediator Pakistan signed the MoU as a guarantor.
The technical facets of the negotiations have been supposed to start on Friday (June 19, 2026), however have been delayed, primarily because of contemporary rounds of firing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The intention of the high-level talks being held in Switzerland is to formally launch negotiations on curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme and advancing the delicate interim deal in direction of sturdy peace.
The signing of the MoU led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz – the waterway by means of which roughly one-fifth of the world’s vitality provides go in regular occasions. Nevertheless, Iran stated on Saturday (June 20) that it has closed the Strait once more, citing Israeli assault in Lebanon.
Mr. Vance stated that the Gulf chokepoint stays open for transport, whereas Mr. Trump issued a risk to impose American tolls within the essential waterway if a last take care of Iran isn’t reached in 60 days.
The settlement signed by Mr. Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian instantly permits Tehran to promote its oil freely and paves the way in which for Iran to faucet into billions of {dollars} in property which can be at the moment frozen. It additionally requires Iran to dilute its stockpile of extremely enriched uranium, believed to be buried below nuclear websites that have been focused in U.S. strikes final summer time.
The settlement says industrial vessels can go by means of the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days and not using a cost, however doesn’t preclude future charges imposed by Iran. Trump made his personal risk on Saturday (June 20, 2026) to levy U.S. tolls on the strait if there is no such thing as a take care of Iran in 60 days, insisting in a social media publish that the cash can be for “companies rendered because the Guardian Angel to the nations of the West Asia.”
Additional complicating issues, neither Israel nor Hezbollah are signatories to the deal between the U.S. and Iran, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to maintain his forces in southern Lebanon till any risk to Israel is eradicated. Hezbollah has refused to halt its assaults until Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon.
Preventing between Israel and Hezbollah within the preliminary days after the settlement between the U.S. and Iran killed 47 individuals in Lebanon, in addition to 4 Israeli troopers.
Revealed – June 21, 2026 10:00 am IST