US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland: Vance says Witkoff and Kushner are already on site

US Vice President J D Vance said on Saturday that peace talks with Iran were continuing in Switzerland. Vance said negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were already there. Vance said the talks followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed by US President Donald Trump and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian. The MoU aimed to end a war lasting over three months.

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In an interview with Fox News, Vance said progress looked positive after updates from the US team. "My understanding, talking to Jared and Steve this Saturday morning, is things are going well,\" Vance said. Vance also said that technical parts of the agreement were being handled first. These discussions were expected to build towards talks with senior officials.

Iran peace talks in Switzerland set around arrivals

Vance said the next stage depended on when senior representatives reached Switzerland. \"Well plan the talks when the principals from the Iranian government, also the Qatari and the Pakistani governments arrive. That may happen as soon as tomorrow, but these things are always a little bit in flux,\" Vance said. Vance said these shifts could change the schedule.

Vance said Witkoff and Kushner had started work soon after landing. \"Jared and Steve have been on the ground now for a few hours, dealing with some of the technical elements of this negotiation,\" Vance added. Vance said these early steps focused on details needed for broader talks. Vance said the effort was meant to support the MoU process.

Iran peace talks delayed after Israel and Lebanon firing

Negotiators were meant to begin technical discussions in Switzerland on Friday. The start was delayed, Vance said, after a fresh round of firing between Israel and Lebanon. Vance did not give a new confirmed start time for the main sessions. Vance said the timetable could change depending on developments and arrivals in Switzerland.

Iran peace talks include US leverage and economic pressure

Vance argued that Washington held strong leverage in the negotiations. \"What a lot of the criticisms of the deal have really underappreciated is that the United States has all the cards. The straits are now open. The Iranian military is now destroyed. The Iranians have committed to, of course, destroying that stockpile of enriched material,\" Vance said. Vance said this shaped the US position.

Vance said the US could adjust sanctions based on Iran’s actions. \"But we have a lot of economic pressure applied to the Iranians that we would be willing to relieve if they do what we need them to do. If they dont do that, of course, theres no skin off our back. Theyre still in a much weakened position,\" Vance said. Vance framed this as a choice for Iran.

Vance said he expected to travel to Switzerland within the next few days. Vance said the talks would move ahead when officials from Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan were present. Vance also said the US team was already handling technical matters. Vance said the pace could still shift because regional events had already caused delays.

With inputs from PTI