LIVE: JD Vance remarks on Iran final deal after high-level talks in Switzerland

Vice President JD Vance delivered an update Monday from Switzerland following negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reducing fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, began Sunday and stretched into the early hours of Monday. While the high-level discussions have concluded, technical negotiations are expected to continue in Switzerland this week. Vance said the talks did not produce a final peace agreement but did establish diplomatic, security and nuclear-monitoring frameworks needed to pursue a broader and more permanent regional settlement. Vance said the negotiations achieved four key objectives: Keep the Strait of Hormuz open: Establish a coordination system to keep commercial shipping moving, manage future incidents without escalation, and ensure the continued flow of oil and natural gas through the waterway. Create a regional deconfliction mechanism: Set up communication channels to manage ceasefire violations, prevent conflicts involving Israel, Hezbollah and others from escalating into a wider war, and improve coordination among regional actors during crises. Restore IAEA nuclear inspections in Iran: Secure Iran's agreement to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back into the country and begin the process of permanently ending Iran's nuclear weapons program. Launch technical negotiations for a final agreement: Establish a formal process for ongoing technical talks among U.S., Iranian, Qatari and Pakistani teams and build the framework for a broader, long-term nuclear and regional security agreement. "The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country," Vance said. "That is a major milestone for the American people." Vance pointed to what he described as significant progress in Lebanon, saying the new communication channels helped prevent clashes from escalating into a broader regional conflict. He said the past 24 hours had been among the most peaceful in Lebanon since the latest fighting began. "We want to make sure that we're talking about how to deescalate these conflicts rather than spiraling out of control," he said. The vice president said the United States remained in close contact with regional partners throughout the negotiations, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. "This is not a deal that the United States is imposing on the region," Vance said. "This is a deal that the region has desperately asked the United States to put in place." Vance also disclosed a proposed framework for any future release of frozen Iranian assets. Under the plan, developed with Qatari officials, any unfrozen funds would be subject to oversight and directed toward humanitarian purchases, including American-grown agricultural products for use in Iran. "If Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, they're going to go to make American farmers richer and to feed the Iranian people," he said. Technical talks are expected to continue in the coming days and weeks as negotiators work toward a broader agreement. While cautioning that substantial work remains, Vance described the negotiations as a meaningful step forward. "We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal," Vance told reporters. "The final deal is the house. We set the foundation." _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WWMT on Facebook:   / wwmtnews   WWMT on Twitter:   / wwmtnews   Subscribe to WWMT on YouTube:    / @wwmtnews   WWMT Daily News Digest:    • WWMT-TV Daily Digest   For more information, visit https://www.wwmt.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 800.875.3333 WWMT is a MI based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WWMT #NEWSCHANNEL3 #Kalamazoo #Michigan