Vance says US and Iransays US and Iran laid good foundation for deal to end Middle East war
US Vice President JD Vance concluded direct talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland, stating that the two sides established a 'good foundation' for a deal to end the Middle East war that began in February 2025.
Tehran agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors to return to its territory after a year of suspension, and working groups were formed to address nuclear issues, sanctions, and dispute resolution.
This diplomatic progress is critical as it aims to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire in Lebanon and de-escalate the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
US Perspective
US Vice President JD Vance and Western outlets describe the talks as a 'very good foundation' for a deal, highlighting progress on nuclear inspections and the establishment of working groups to address sanctions and monitoring, while refusing to commit to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Iranian Perspective
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and state media characterize the de-confliction cell as the 'first real test' of the ceasefire process, emphasizing that Tehran has agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors to return while maintaining a firm stance on the details of the agreement.
Regional Media Perspective
Al Jazeera and regional media frame the negotiations as significant progress on the nuclear program and Israel's war on Lebanon, while noting that the US refusal to support an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory remains a major obstacle to ending the conflict.
- The 12-day war in 2025 involved direct nuclear site bombings by the US and Israel, marking a historic escalation in the conflict.
- Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz previously caused a 20 percent drop in oil benchmark prices as markets priced in the potential for war.
- Hezbollah operates thousands of rockets in Lebanon and remains Iran's most powerful military proxy in the region.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
