U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Monday from Switzerland that 'significant progress' has been made toward ensuring the Strait of Hormuz is open, and that a direct communication mechanism between Israel and Lebanon will be established to prevent escalation. Vance noted technical teams will remain in place as he returns home, adding that 'very good foundations' were laid.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance issued a statement Monday afternoon from Switzerland, updating on the second day of talks between the U.S. and Iran. Vance said 'significant progress' had been made toward a framework to keep the Strait of Hormuz open — a strategic waterway that Iran has previously threatened to close. He also announced an agreement to establish a direct communication mechanism between Israel and Lebanon, aimed at preventing escalation along the northern border. The technical teams from both sides will remain in Switzerland to continue work, Vance added, as he departs. 'We laid very good foundations,' he said.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, the U.S. and Iran agreed to set up direct communications channels to safeguard the Hormuz strait and sustain the Lebanon ceasefire, following the first round of talks. Iran's Foreign Ministry separately confirmed 'good progress.' The talks remain at a technical level, and no final agreement has been announced. The question of linking any Hormuz reopening to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon — as Tehran has demanded — was not addressed in Vance's brief statement.
The Vance statement comes after several days of mixed signals from the talks. On Sunday, Iran reported conflicting reports of a delegation walkout, later denied, and on Friday Iran froze talks and linked their resumption to a Lebanon ceasefire. The U.S. position has been consistent in seeking a diplomatic path on both nuclear and regional security tracks.
2 developments
- StrongVance: Good progress made during US-Iran talks in Switzerland; also addresses Lebanon
- DevelopingUS VP Vance says 'great progress' on Lebanon ceasefire in recent days, with Pakistan, Iran FM
- StrongUS and Iran agree to set up direct communications to keep Hormuz open and sustain Lebanon ceasefire
- DevelopingVance says US and Iran established a mechanism to bring Israel-Hezbollah to talks
Source and signal
- Internal intake