Switzerland said Friday’s U.S.-Iran meeting in Buergenstock would not take place, disrupting plans to turn this week’s memorandum into a permanent accord within 60 days.
JD Vance dropped plans to travel and Iran’s lead negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was also not expected, while the White House blamed difficult logistics and said preparatory work was continuing.
Lebanon’s renewed fighting added pressure to the process: Israeli strikes killed 18 people, and Israel said four soldiers died in one of Hezbollah’s deadliest attacks of the war.
The harder issues were always deferred — Iran’s nuclear program, long-range missiles and a $300 billion reconstruction fund — and Khamenei warned Tehran would reject excessive U.S. demands.
The delay leaves a fragile deal under scrutiny after a war that has killed at least 7,000 people and prompted criticism in Washington over sanctions relief and asset unfreezes worth tens of billions.
On June 18, 2026, Iran halted its delegation’s trip to Switzerland, leading to the suspension of the formal signing ceremony and technical negotiations for the US-Iran peace process. This decision was triggered by ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, which Iran viewed as a violation of the interim deal that had previously extended a fragile ceasefire by 60 days. The suspension immediately cast doubt on the recently achieved understanding between the US and Iran, highlighting how renewed conflict in Lebanon can quickly undermine diplomatic progress and threaten the stability of broader peace efforts.