Negotiations between the US and Iran, which were supposed to take place today in Switzerland, have been canceled. This was reported by the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting of delegations from the two countries was planned at a hotel complex on Mount Bürgenstock near Lucerne.
It was announced the day before that US Vice President Jay D. Vance postponed his trip to Switzerland. The White House stated that organizing such negotiations "is never simple or predictable," but did not specify the exact reasons for the postponement, reports NOS.
Earlier, the Iranian agency Tasnim reported that Tehran hopes to first ensure that Washington fulfills the basic agreements reached by the parties. Only after that is Iran ready to move on to further negotiations.
It was at Bürgenstock that the next stage of dialogue between the US and Iran was supposed to begin. This week, the parties agreed on a framework agreement aimed at ending the war, but many issues remain unresolved. It was expected that their discussion would continue over the next two months. It is currently unknown how the cancellation of this meeting will affect the further negotiation process.
Sanctions and Oil Exports
Critics of the agreement argue that Iran gained significant advantages during the negotiations. This concerns the lifting of some sanctions and the unfreezing of assets. At the same time, issues related to the Iranian nuclear program and the limitation of missile development, in their opinion, remain insufficiently regulated.
Commenting on these claims, Vance stated that no state would agree to terms that limit its right to self-defense.
In response to criticism regarding the easing of sanctions against the Iranian oil sector, the American vice president noted that this does not give Tehran fundamentally new advantages. However, The New York Times reports that before the war began, Iran faced serious difficulties in exporting oil and often had to sell it at prices below market value.
Tensions Between Trump and Netanyahu
Relations between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have repeatedly become a topic of discussion in the media in recent months. The American president has repeatedly expressed disagreement with certain actions of the Israeli government.
Netanyahu continues to insist on maintaining the freedom of action of the Israeli army in Lebanon to counter the Hezbollah movement, which is considered an ally of Iran. At the same time, Tehran has succeeded in including the Lebanese issue in the framework of the agreement with the US.
Although the Israeli Prime Minister has not directly opposed the agreements reached, he stated that Israeli forces will maintain a presence in Lebanon. According to him, this is necessary to ensure the safety of residents in northern Israel.
For his part, Donald Trump noted at the G7 summit that Israel is capable of ensuring its own security even with a less stringent approach to the situation in Lebanon.
The cancellation of the meeting at Bürgenstock came as a surprise against the backdrop of previously reached agreements between the US and Iran. The parties have not yet reported the reasons for the postponement of the negotiations, but the further development of the process will be of great importance not only for Washington and Tehran's relations but also for the situation across the entire Middle East.
