US-Iran talks in Switzerland delayed, White House says Vance remains ready to go
Announcement follows reports Tehran has suspended its delegation’s departure because of attacks on southern Lebanon
In a statement, the White House said the arrangements for the “technical talks” had not yet been finalised and that the US delegation remained prepared to depart at the first available opportunity.
“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable,” the statement said.
The announcement followed reports by Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen outlet that Tehran had suspended its delegation’s trip because of continued Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.
During an earlier press briefing, Vance described future face-to-face negotiations as “obvious”, but added it did not mean “accepting the enemy’s opinion”. He told reporters he did not know when he would be travelling for the negotiations.
However, with Israel opposing the agreement, Vance said the “personal” attacks by politicians in Tel Aviv against US President Donald Trump and the deal “bothered” him, claiming that Trump was the only head of state who was “sympathetic to the nation of Israel”.