Vance calls US-Iran talks in Switzerland 'historic', hopes to turn over 'a new leaf'

U.S. Vice President JD Vance opened high-level U.S.-Iran talks at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland on Sunday, calling the meeting historic and expressing hope that Washington and Tehran could permanently transform their relationship. The negotiations, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, aim to build on a preliminary deal to halt the Middle East war.

What did JD Vance say at the U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland?

Vance said the core question before both sides was how much progress they could make together. He outlined three goals: advancing Iran's nuclear file, consolidating the ceasefire in Lebanon, and reshaping relations across the Middle East. He warned that failure would mean returning to what he called "doing things the old way."

Vance was flanked by U.S. negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at the luxury lakeside resort overlooking Lake Lucerne. The negotiation room was arranged in a U-shape, with Qatar and the United States on one side and Pakistan and Iran on the other. Each delegation had three seats, with Pakistan and Qatar also holding positions at the head of the table.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf led the Tehran delegation. The Iranian side did not address reporters in the room, and Araghchi did not join Vance and the mediating prime ministers for photographs.

What is the U.S. asking Iran to give up?

Vance said President Donald Trump wants to extend what he described as an outstretched hand to the Iranian people. The offer, as Vance framed it, is contingent on Iran's leadership agreeing to stop driving regional instability and giving up long-term nuclear weapons ambitions. In return, the United States is willing to fundamentally transform its relationship with Iran.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani delivered opening remarks as co-mediators. Sharif expressed optimism, saying he hoped the delegations would leave Switzerland with an agreement that promotes peace, progress, and prosperity.

Even as talks opened, Trump posted on Truth Social warning that Tehran must rein in Hezbollah in Lebanon. "If they don't, we'll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder," Trump wrote, casting a shadow over the diplomatic proceedings at Burgenstock.