Lauge Risom Koch 
US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged several setbacks during ongoing negotiations with Iran, including walkout threats and failed attempts to contact nuclear inspectors.
US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged several difficulties during ongoing negotiations with Iran, while insisting that talks remain on track despite threats, disagreements and communication problems.
According to The Daily Beast, Vance offered a candid assessment of the negotiations during a press conference in Switzerland, where American and Iranian delegations are working toward a potential agreement.
Talks face hurdles
Speaking at the Bürgenstock Resort, Vance dismissed suggestions that recent comments by President Donald Trump had undermined the negotiations.
According to The Daily Beast, Trump recently warned that the United States would respond forcefully if Iran attempted to close the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about the impact of such rhetoric on the talks.
Vance argued that despite public tensions, negotiations continued well into the early hours of the morning.
Threats and delays
The vice president acknowledged reports that members of the Iranian delegation had threatened to leave the negotiations.
“The thing with the Iranians, yes, they did threaten to walk out, or at least there were social media threats that they would walk out,” Vance said, according to The Daily Beast.
He added that discussions continued past 1 a.m. and described the overall progress as positive despite the difficulties.
Communication problems
Vance also revealed that US officials encountered unexpected problems while trying to contact nuclear inspectors during the negotiations.
According to The Daily Beast, he said members of the US delegation attempted to reach inspectors around 2 a.m., but received no response.
He noted that the calls had still not been returned by the time he spoke to the media later that day.
Defending the agreement
Vance also defended provisions in the proposed agreement that would potentially allow access to certain frozen Iranian assets.
According to The Daily Beast, he described the arrangement as beneficial for both countries and characterized it as a “classic Trump deal.”
“That’s a very, very good and very classic Trump deal that’s great for our people, great for the people of Iran,” said Vance.
Sources: The Daily Beast
