US Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian officials have arrived in Switzerland to formally launch negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. The talks aim to build on a fragile interim deal to end the war in Iran and keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Negotiations Begin

Vance met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir, who has served as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held separate meetings with Sharif.

The US and Iran have a 60-day window to reach an agreement on the technical details of the nuclear program, which has significant implications for the global economy and security. However, the talks have already been stress-tested due to fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Challenges Ahead

Iran’s main focus during the negotiations will be the ongoing war between Israel and Lebanon. Tehran is insisting that the deal’s implementation start with the cessation of all wars, including between Israel and Hezbollah. The US has been criticized for its handling of the conflict, with some arguing that it has not done enough to hold Israel to the ceasefire.

The agreement signed by the US and Iran allows Tehran to sell its oil freely and paves the way for Iran to tap into billions of dollars in assets that are currently frozen. However, the deal has stirred controversy, with some Republicans likening it to a nuclear agreement signed by the Obama administration that they claim did nothing to terminate Iran’s nuclear program.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.