US-Iran talks postponed as Vance pulls out of Switzerland trip
BBC News 2026-06-19 09:38:44
Context: A new round of direct talks between the US and Iran has been postponed after US Vice-President JD Vance cancelled his planned trip to Switzerland, where the talks were set to take place. The talks were intended to focus on implementing a recently signed agreement and discussing longer-term issues, including Iran's nuclear programme. The postponement comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, including Israeli air strikes in Lebanon.
Key Facts
- The US and Iran had planned to hold technical discussions on the next steps of an agreement signed earlier in the week, but the talks have been postponed due to Vance's cancellation.
- The agreement signed by the US and Iran includes a requirement that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, a $300bn plan for Iran's "reconstruction", and the US terminating "all types of sanctions" on Iran.
- Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said he had approved the deal with the US despite having a "different view", claiming that former US President Trump had "out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage" to bring it about.
- Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 18 people overnight, with the country's health ministry reporting 33 injured and several buildings hit, amid a conflict involving the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
- The negotiations had been expected to focus on implementing the agreement and begin discussions on longer-term issues, including Iran's nuclear programme, with a goal of achieving a final deal within 60 days, which could be extended with mutual consent.