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Vance says talks with Iranian officials set 'good foundation' for a deal to end war
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance on Monday said his lengthy talks with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland created a "good foundation for a successful final deal" as they negotiate bringing a permanent end to the war that the U.S. and Israel began in late February.
Vance and U.S. officials claimed progress on multiple fronts, including the establishment of "mechanisms" to ensure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy shipments, stays open and to address fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, where a ceasefire appeared to be holding.
The vice-president departed Switzerland as technical teams were still in place negotiating. Speaking to reporters later in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump lauded the efforts to keep the strait open to create "an oil gusher," as he stressed that the key to resolving the war was "respect" from Iran.
Vance said his talks with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland created a "good foundation" for a deal to end the war.
"As long as they respect us — I don't want to use the word fear, because that's an inappropriate word — but as long as they respect us, we're not going to have any trouble," Trump said from the Oval Office.
Iran effectively closed the strait after the U.S. and Israel attacked on Feb. 28, causing fuel prices to skyrocket far beyond the region. The interim agreement to end the war was supposed to reopen the channel.
The lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insisted on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran, but following international laws.
Earlier Monday, the U.S. Treasury issued a 60-day license waiving sanctions on Iranian oil as part of the interim agreement. Notably, the license allows Iranian oil to be imported into the U.S., which has not imported significant amounts of Iranian oil since the 1990s.
While in Switzerland, Vance suggested the U.S. could also agree to unfreeze Iranian assets for purchases of U.S. soy, corn and wheat. He said Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump and one of the lead U.S. negotiators, came up with the idea with officials from Qatar.
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