The White House said Vice President JD Vance will not travel to Switzerland for talks with Iran as planned, citing “logistical problems” tied to the next phase of negotiations. A White House spokesman said the technical follow-up talks with Tehran have not yet been finalized, though the American delegation is ready to leave at the first opportunity. He added that Vance “will not fly tonight at this stage” and that Washington will announce any next steps once they are available.
Vance had been expected to go to Switzerland to take part in arrangements connected to a U.S.-Iran agreement, but organizational complications forced the visit to be postponed. The White House stressed that the delay does not mean a setback in the negotiations, only that procedural and organizational matters are still being worked out as the new round gets underway.
The move comes as Washington and Tehran prepare for the technical stage of talks, which is expected to address implementation details, including nuclear files, international monitoring mechanisms, and the lifting of economic sanctions. On Tuesday, Vance said the American team was waiting to hear when and how the Iranians could get to the talks site in the town of Lucerne, and said negotiations could begin at the end of the week or later.
Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Iran would allow the International Atomic Energy Agency access to its nuclear facilities as part of understandings following the preliminary deal with Washington. According to an AP report citing informed sources, Witkoff told members of Congress in a closed briefing that Iran would formally invite the agency to inspect nuclear sites, identify the locations of enriched material, and monitor its condition. He said the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran does not include side agreements, but a separate letter has been prepared between Tehran and the agency to organize the return of international inspectors. The issue of international oversight remains one of the most sensitive in the ongoing talks, because the United States insists on verification mechanisms to ensure Iran complies with its nuclear commitments. Vance has previously said the return of international inspectors was a central condition for ending the war and implementing the new understandings with Iran.
