Geneva (Web Desk): Switzerland has confirmed that the scheduled diplomatic talks between the United States (US) and Iran, intended to advance a broader Middle East peace framework, will not take place on Friday after US Vice President JD Vance cancelled his planned visit to Geneva.
The meeting was expected to proceed under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed a day earlier following agreement on a 14-point framework between Washington and Tehran.
The arrangement lays out steps to end the ongoing conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and continue structured negotiations on key issues over a 60-day period.
Swiss officials said the discussions, originally planned for the Burgenstock mountain resort, had been postponed. The foreign ministry did not provide any reason for the delay but confirmed the change in a statement shared with international media.
According to the ministry, the talks involving the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar have been put on hold. However, Switzerland reiterated that it remains ready to host the negotiations whenever both sides are prepared to resume, adding that preparatory work at Burgenstock is still in progress.
In Washington, a White House spokesperson described the situation as fluid and subject to logistical challenges, noting that such high-level diplomacy is rarely straightforward.
The spokesperson confirmed that Vice President Vance would no longer be travelling but emphasized that the United States still hopes to begin technical discussions as soon as possible.
Iran has not issued an official response to the postponement. Earlier, Tehran had indicated it was prepared to enter technical-level talks following the 14-point agreement reached on Thursday, which extended a fragile ceasefire by another 60 days.
Reports from the semi-official Tasnim news agency suggested that Iranian negotiators were waiting for evidence that Washington had begun implementing the interim deal before committing fully to the next phase. The same reports indicated uncertainty over whether Iran would send a delegation to Geneva at all.
Before the postponement was announced, Vice President Vance and the US delegation were reportedly ready to depart once final arrangements were completed. On Thursday, Vance himself had noted that the timeline remained uncertain, saying technical negotiations were expected to begin over the weekend but could still shift.
The Swiss foreign ministry had earlier stated that delegations from the United States and Iran, alongside mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other participating parties, were expected to gather in Burgenstock for preliminary talks focused on implementing the agreement.
A formal signing ceremony for the Islamabad MoU was also being considered in Geneva. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a mediating role and signed the document, had previously indicated that Pakistan would host the ceremony in the Swiss city.
However, those plans were later dropped after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar explained that the agreement had already been concluded remotely, removing the need for an in-person event.
US officials had also supported holding a formal ceremony in Switzerland, but Iran’s foreign ministry questioned its necessity, arguing that the agreement was already endorsed by both presidents.
The conflict traces back to February 28, when US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran triggered a war that has reportedly killed at least 7,000 people and caused major disruptions to global energy supplies and financial markets.
Throughout the crisis, Pakistan has played an active diplomatic role. It helped broker a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran on April 8 and later facilitated rare direct engagement between the two sides in Islamabad.
Israel, which is not part of the agreement, has continued to distance itself from the US-Iran framework while maintaining military operations in Lebanon, which it says are aimed at Hezbollah. This has raised fresh doubts about the stability of the wider peace process.
On Friday, renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon reportedly killed at least 15 people, according to the state-run NNA news agency. The ongoing conflict has displaced more than a million residents, worsening humanitarian concerns across the region.
The developments have also intensified debate over how strongly US President Donald Trump will pressure Israel to halt its military campaign after committing to ending the broader war.
Although the agreement calls for a permanent end to hostilities in Lebanon, Israel has said it has no intention of withdrawing forces and has instead outlined plans for an expanded operational zone.
Trump has reportedly become increasingly critical of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, marking a notable strain in relations between Washington and its key ally.
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran would respond decisively if the agreement was violated.
In Washington, some Republican lawmakers have questioned whether the administration conceded too much in pursuit of ending the conflict ahead of upcoming midterm elections.
Trump had earlier demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as the only acceptable outcome. However, the signed memorandum instead includes sanctions relief, unfreezing of Iranian assets worth billions, and immediate oil export waivers.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Trump agreed to the deal out of necessity and warned that upcoming nuclear talks would be difficult. He added that Iran would not accept excessive demands from the United States.
Under the agreement, both sides have a 60-day window to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme unless extended, alongside a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund.
Vice President Vance said the United States would also seek limitations on Iran’s long-range missile capabilities in future negotiations.
The financial cost of the war has also drawn scrutiny, with reports indicating the US Department of Defense has requested around $80 billion to cover war-related spending and obligations.
When the conflict began nearly four months ago, Trump stated the objective was to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and ensure it could never develop nuclear weapons.
Iran has repeatedly denied such intentions, insisting its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful.
Washington also aimed to curb Iran’s regional influence and support for allied groups, and at times even considered regime change, though those goals remain unfulfilled according to analysts.
Tehran, meanwhile, agreed to international inspections under the International Atomic Energy Agency and committed to reducing its enriched uranium stockpile, while rejecting US demands to remove it from the country.
US officials maintain that upcoming negotiations could still result in a stronger agreement than the 2015 nuclear deal Trump later abandoned.
Critics argue, however, that Iran now holds a stronger position after enduring military pressure and securing significant economic concessions.
Iran has also indicated plans to coordinate management of the Strait of Hormuz with Oman and introduce shipping service fees once the 60-day negotiation period concludes.
Oil markets reacted with a decline in prices on Friday as tankers resumed movement through the reopened Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over supply disruptions from a waterway that previously handled nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas trade.