On June 21, 2026, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and other U.S. negotiators met with Iranian officials at the Bürgenstock ski resort in Switzerland for the first round of direct negotiations aimed at ending the war. This meeting marks the first direct talks between the U.S. and Iran since the Islamabad summit in April 2026 and is intended to initiate 60 days of discussions focused on limiting Iran's nuclear program.
The negotiations proceeded despite Iran's announcement that it would close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli actions in Lebanon. Vance reported progress during the talks and expressed hope for further advancements.
U.S. representatives, including Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, met with the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Qatar, as well as Pakistan's military leadership, who are mediating the discussions. Following these meetings, the Iranian delegation, led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, engaged in trilateral discussions with the mediators.
Vance emphasized that the U.S. aims not only to address the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program but also to fundamentally change its relationship with Iran. He described the meeting as historic due to the level of direct engagement between the two nations.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson indicated that the talks would address the ceasefire in Lebanon, U.S. waivers for Iranian oil sales, and the issue of Iran's frozen assets. The U.S. hopes to conclude this round of talks with an invitation for UN inspectors to visit Iranian nuclear sites, in exchange for access to some of Iran's frozen funds for humanitarian purchases.
Ahead of the negotiations, Israel and Hezbollah reaffirmed their commitment to a ceasefire, although previous ceasefires have been short-lived. Vance acknowledged that developments in Lebanon could impact the negotiations but noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is managing de-escalation efforts.