According to Yonhap News on June 21, Vance departed from Andrews Joint Base near Washington, D.C., and is set to attend the first round of practical negotiations since the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two nations.
Before his departure, Vance spoke with reporters regarding the tensions between Israel and Lebanon, stating, "Contrary to reports, the actual situation is somewhat calming," and emphasized the need for ongoing management to ensure the safety and stability of both countries.
He expressed hope for progress on nuclear issues and outcomes related to the ceasefire in Lebanon, calling these two matters the most critical topics for negotiation at this time.
Earlier, Pakistan, which has been mediating the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, announced that face-to-face talks would take place in Switzerland. Reports indicate that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also departed for Switzerland to attend the negotiations.
On the U.S. side, Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, have already arrived in Switzerland. The Iranian negotiating delegation is also reported to be in Switzerland, ready for discussions.
The U.S. and Iran are pursuing their first practical negotiations since signing the MOU to discuss issues such as the nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions against Iran. However, the schedule was previously postponed due to ongoing clashes between Israel and the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Following this, Iran declared a reclosure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing violations of the MOU. However, U.S. military officials stated that the strait is not currently blocked. The upcoming talks are expected to focus on nuclear issues, sanctions relief, and security concerns in the Middle East.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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