Four meters distance between US Vice President JD Vance and the Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf and then Iran breaks off negotiations with the USA. What happened?
June 21, 2026, 7:37 p.mJune 21, 2026, 7:39 p.m
JD Vance on the Bürgenstock with the mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.Image: keystone
The USA and Iran have agreed to meet on the Bürgenstock NW that has been described as “historic”. On Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf sat four meters apart. However, the situation in Lebanon and US President Donald Trump cooled tempers.
The summit formally began in the afternoon in a symbolic disagreement that reflected the complexity of the situation. Most international media and Qatar announced the start of the talks before they even began.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi only came briefly. He left before opening remarks from Vance and mediators Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
When he returned with Ghalibaf shortly after 3 p.m., photographers and cameramen were no longer allowed in the hall. Iranian sources later suggested that Tehran did not want to grant Donald Trump any media success.
“This is a historic meeting” to “transform the Middle East,” said Vance after the agreement in principle signed on Wednesday by the US President and his Iranian counterpart Massoud Peseschkian. He noted that a format involving high-level American and Iranian officials in direct negotiations was almost unprecedented in nearly 50 years. “We have made progress in the last few hours,” he affirmed.
However, accompanied by Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, he warned the Iranians. “The question now is what we can achieve together through diplomatic channels,” said Vance. “If your leadership is willing to renounce being a factor of regional instability” and “abandon long-term nuclear ambitions,” “the United States wants to fundamentally change the relationship with this country,” the vice president said.
Lebanon is discussed in detail
Peseschkian had previously reiterated that Tehran did not want nuclear weapons, but claimed the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. Iran later said the issue had not been raised.
Wednesday’s agreement in principle discusses several scenarios, such as a transfer of uranium enriched to 60 percent to another country or a dilution to around 5 percent monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). According to observers, two months will not be enough to resolve this issue.
A few minutes before the start of the talks, the United States and Iran met with Qatar to discuss the Israeli attacks in Lebanon that led to the postponement of the summit on Friday. The ceasefire in this country is part of the agreement in principle signed on Wednesday, which paved the way for the Bürgenstock talks.
Tehran reiterated that it needed guarantees on the issue before negotiating a final agreement with Washington. Following new bomb threats from Donald Trump, Iran said it remained firm on the issue during the talks. Ghalibaf did not appreciate these statements and advised the US to “monitor their statements.”
In addition to the nuclear issue, the negotiations are expected to cover other topics over two months, such as the lifting of US sanctions, $300 billion in financing for the reconstruction of Iran and the release of Iranian funds.
Bilateral meetings for Cassis
In a sign of nervousness between the two countries, Iran announced it would close the Strait of Hormuz again after the Israeli attacks. The situation had improved on Thursday. The US, in turn, says Tehran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington criticized its Israeli ally, which still wants to remain in southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not directly comment on the agreement in principle, but it was met with widespread criticism in Israel. In the face of criticism, Vance said no one had done more for the Middle East than the United States.
For Switzerland, which, according to its own assessment, was the only European country to be able to offer this trustworthy platform, Sunday’s meeting opened a new window for good offices. Up to 2,000 army personnel and the police secure the area. On Sunday, Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis met Araghtschi, the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, Sharif and Vance.
“In the current context, the mere fact that the parties are present, talking to each other and continuing this dialogue is already an important contribution to the implementation of the agreement,” Cassis spokesman Nicolas Bideau told the Keystone-SDA news agency. Implementing the agreement in principle represents “a major challenge, especially when the deadlines are short and expectations are high,” he said.
Switzerland remains available to support this process. “De-escalation and stabilization of the situation in the Middle East are a priority for Swiss foreign policy,” said Bideau. (sda)
Video: watson/nina bürge