"Turn over a new page" : Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, welcomes historic negotiations with Iran in Switzerland

American Vice President JD Vance described as “historic” the negotiations initiated this Sunday, June 21 in Switzerland with Iran to finalize a memorandum of understanding putting an end to hostilities in the Middle East. He says he hopes to open “a new page” in the relationship with Iran, even though the talks must lead, within a renewable 60 days, to a final agreement to put an end to the conflict.

“This is a historic meeting… What the president has asked us to do is turn a new page to transform our relationship with the Iranian people, and to reach out to the Iranians to tell them that if their leaders are willing to give up their role as a factor of regional instability, if they are ready to permanently abandon any ambition to acquire nuclear weapons, then the United States is ready to fundamentally transform its relationship with this country,” declared JD Vance at the start of discussions between the two countries and mediators from Qatar and Pakistan at Bürgenstock, in the Swiss Alps.

But for its part, Iranian state television reported a pause in negotiations in Switzerland between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, and affirmed that the Iranian nuclear program had not been discussed. “No negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear program took place during the 80 minutes of the first session of talks,” the channel said, adding that the discussions had focused at this stage on respect for the memorandum of understanding concluded between Tehran and Washington, as well as on the situation in Lebanon.

Clashes continue in Lebanon

Clashes between Israel and pro-Iranian Hezbollah continued Friday and Saturday in Lebanon, despite a clause in the framework agreement providing for an end to hostilities on all fronts. Strikes by the Israeli army, which occupies part of southern Lebanon, left at least 30 dead there on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even affirmed on Sunday that the Israeli army will remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary.” He added that “whatever future diplomatic developments, I will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, this will not happen.”

At the same time, Donald Trump threatens Iran on his Truth Social network with new strikes on Iran if its allies in Lebanon continue to “cause problems”. On Sunday, the leader of Hezbollah said he refused the creation of any Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon.