US and Iranian negotiators head to Switzerland for talks

US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iranian negotiators.

Vance’s office said that he and his wife, Usha Vance, arrived at Emmen Air Base outside Lucerne at just before 6 a.m. local time.

Before boarding his flight, Vance said he hoped to “make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue.”

Pakistan, a key mediator in US-Iran talks, confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had left for Bürgenstock, Switzerland, to participate in the talks “on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that high-level delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States would be part of the talks.

The statement went on to say that Sharif would hold bilateral talks with the delegations, including Switzerland,“to reaffirm Pakistan’s enduring commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region.”

Pakistan has positioned itself as a mediator in the ongoing conflict and has hosted talks and served as an intermediary in diplomatic efforts to bring the warring parties together. 

US Vice President JD Vance has left Washington for talks with Iran in Switzerland.

“I can only be there for a day or two,” Vance told reporters before departing from Joint Base Andrews on Saturday.

“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue … make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we’re to be focused on,” he said. 

Vance’s trip was delayed from Friday after Tehran initially canceled its participation in the talks as Israel continues strikes in Lebanon.

Israel confirmed that it was firing at Lebanon on Saturday, but accused Hezbollah of breaking the latest ceasefire and later ordered a halt to fighting in southern Lebanon.

On Saturday, Tehran also said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz over Israel’s continued strikes, although the US disputed this, saying that Iran did not control the vital shipping channel and that traffic in the strait was continuing.

Brokered by Pakistan, Sunday’s talks aim to implement a framework deal to end the Iran conflict.

Iran’s delegation is being led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and US “bad faith” and “its clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end fighting in Lebanon.

The deal the US president struck with Iranian leadership has triggered a backlash from within his Republican Party as prominent members raise concerns about sanctions relief and a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Delegations from the US and Iran will be in the Swiss mountain resort Bürgenstock.

US Vice President JD Vance set off on Saturday to join the other members of his delegation, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.  

The Iranian delegation was already in Switzerland.

Saturday saw Tehran say it was closing the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

We will be bringing you the latest updates, videos and expert analysis on the conflict in the Middle East throughout the day.