Iran-U.S. talks set 'good foundation' for ending war, Vance says

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced Monday that negotiations with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland have established a "good foundation for a successful final deal" to permanently end the war initiated by the U.S. and Israel in late February.

Vance and U.S. officials reported progress on several fronts. These include creating "mechanisms" to ensure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments, remains open. They also aim to address the conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, where a ceasefire appeared to be holding.

Technical teams remained in Switzerland to continue negotiations after Vance's departure. He emphasized that President Donald Trump would prioritize Iran's actions over its statements. "My point is that I trust actions, and what the president has asked us to do is verify what they’re doing, focus less on what they’re saying," Vance told reporters.

Iran had effectively closed the strait following U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28, which caused fuel prices to surge globally. An interim agreement to end the war stipulated the reopening of this channel. While dozens of ships passed through over the weekend, the main route remains mined and closed.

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My point is that I trust actions, and what the president has asked us to do is verify what they’re doing, focus less on what they’re saying.

Hezbollah and Israel also engaged in conflict shortly after the initial attacks. Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israeli civilian areas, while Israel occupied significant parts of southern Lebanon. Iran has stated that resolving the conflict in Lebanon is essential for any broader peace deal.

Iran reported "major progress" in ending the fighting in Lebanon, calling it the first true test of the negotiations. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury issued a 60-day license waiving sanctions on Iranian oil as part of the interim agreement, allowing imports into the U.S. for the first time in decades. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain to discuss the ongoing developments.

Vance described the mediation effort, which began Sunday and extended into Monday, as having "laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people," even though "we haven’t built the house." The talks were influenced by statements from Trump, which reportedly offended the Iranians.

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We haven’t built the house, but we’ve laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people.