Iranian Delegation Refuses Photo Op With U.S. Team at Switzerland Talks

Reports from negotiations at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock say the American delegation asked for a joint photo and handshake with their Iranian counterparts, but the Iranians refused and left the room. The Americans had reportedly wanted to stage a “strong” image showing Donald Trump’s peace push in the Middle East, including a mutual handshake, but that gesture was also rejected.

The dispute came as U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, the second-highest official under American law, attended the talks and delivered remarks about “peace in the Middle East” with the flags of Iran, Qatar, Pakistan, and the United States behind him. The original report described the Iranian snub as a new low in public humiliation for Washington.

Commentators noted the contrast in delegations: the United States sent its vice president, while Iran came with a lower-level ministerial team. The article said that this underscored a sense of Iranian superiority and American capitulation, according to those observers.

The Iranian delegation is led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Other members named as taking part in the negotiations include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the governor of Iran’s central bank, and the Iranian deputy minister of oil.