US and Iran Mull Direct Talks in Switzerland

U.S. Senator JD Vance stated on the 20th, local time, that direct talks between the United States and Iran could be held in Switzerland as early as the 21st. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry also announced on the same day that Iran's negotiation delegation would depart for Switzerland. Currently, U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Wikoof and former White House advisor Jared Kushner have arrived in Switzerland, and Senator JD Vance himself indicated the possibility of visiting Switzerland within days.

The possibility of high-ranking officials from both the United States and Iran holding face-to-face negotiations in Switzerland as early as the 21st (local time) has been raised. Spokesperson Baghaei of the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the Iranian delegation is scheduled to depart for Switzerland.

Baghaei stated, "We demand that the other party (the United States) implement the previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and we will clarify how they will fulfill their promises." He added, "If the other party fails to uphold parts of the agreement, the entire MOU will be jeopardized," emphasizing that the other party must take measures to implement the MOU as soon as possible. Baghaei continued, "We did not sign promises that would not be fulfilled. Our approach is 'promise for promise,' so if the other party evades their obligations, we will respond with necessary measures.".

Iran claims that the United States and Israel have violated the MOU, pointing to Israel's continued airstrikes in southern Lebanon and its failure to withdraw from Lebanese territory as significant violations of the MOU. Baghaei criticized, "Just as Iran upholds its promises, the other party (the United States) has an obligation to compel the Zionist regime (Israel) to cease its attacks on Lebanon." He added, "By neglecting this issue, the U.S. has clearly violated the MOU.".

The Iranian side intends to demand clarity on whether the United States is properly implementing the previous MOU during the negotiations, emphasizing that they did not sign promises that would not be fulfilled. The MOU stipulates a halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Both the United States and Iran have confirmed their willingness to sit down for negotiations. According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, delegations from the U.S. and Iran were scheduled to hold talks on the 21st at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland. This negotiation could serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the willingness of the U.S. and Iran to continue talks face-to-face, and attention is focused on whether follow-up negotiations will proceed as planned despite the controversy over alleged MOU violations. Israel continued its airstrikes on Lebanon following the announcement. These talks could be an opportunity to seek de-escalation between the two countries, and the world is watching closely to see whether follow-up negotiations will proceed as scheduled, despite the controversy surrounding alleged MOU violations.