Washington, June 19: US Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to travel to Switzerland for technical discussions with Iran. However, this plan has been postponed. The White House has confirmed that preparations for the talks are ongoing, with both parties focusing on implementing a recently signed memorandum of understanding.
A White House spokesperson stated late Thursday, “As the Vice President mentioned in his press conference, the upcoming technical talks are not yet finalized. The US delegation is ready to depart at the earliest opportunity, but organizing these discussions has never been straightforward.”
The spokesperson added, “For now, Vice President Vance will not be leaving tonight.”
While the White House has not announced a new departure schedule, officials remain committed to starting the discussions soon. They indicated that updates regarding the next steps would be provided as soon as available. The aim is to initiate technical talks as quickly as possible.
This delay comes at a time when Washington and Tehran are preparing to move beyond agreements to detailed discussions on implementation, verification, and compliance.
Earlier on Thursday, Vance had expressed optimism that the technical talks would commence within days, likely in Switzerland. During a briefing at the White House, he told the media, “We believe these technical discussions could start at any time this weekend.” The Vice President acknowledged that coordinating the talks has proven challenging.
Vance noted, “Our plan is to go to Switzerland; I’m not sure exactly when. This could change, as exiting Iran is not easy, and we are trying to determine the timing.”
When asked if he would travel immediately, the Vice President replied, “Maybe, it depends on when the Iranians can arrive. We are currently trying to figure that out.”
Vance expressed hope that he would lead the US delegation during the discussions.
The talks are expected to focus on technical issues that officials believe will determine whether the larger agreement can be successfully implemented. Key topics likely to be addressed include monitoring processes, verification mechanisms, and handling the remnants of Iran’s enriched uranium.
Vance stated, “How you eliminate this highly enriched uranium involves delving into the details.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that implementation will be the true test of the agreement. Vice President Vance remarked, “We do not rely on words. We rely on actions.” He outlined what approach the US intends to take in the next phase of discussions.
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