BURGENSTOCK, Switzerland (AP) — President JD Vance said Monday that the United States and Iran had established “a very good foundation” for negotiations toward a final agreement, following marathon talks at a Swiss mountain resort that marked the most direct engagement between the two countries in years.
Vance announced that Tehran had agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) back into the country, a year after Iran suspended cooperation and blocked access to nuclear sites damaged during the 2025 war involving U.S. and Israeli strikes. He described the move as “a major milestone” and “the first step in permanently denuclearising Iran.”
The discussions come after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding last week, setting a 60-day timetable for technical negotiations. The talks follow nearly 40 days of fighting and weeks of fragile ceasefires in the Middle East, underscoring the urgency of a long-term settlement.
“We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal,” Vance told reporters. “The final deal is the house. We haven’t built the house, but we’ve laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people.”
Iranian officials offered a more cautious assessment. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said only “a very brief discussion took place regarding the nuclear issue, but there was no discussion of details,” stressing that formal nuclear negotiations had not yet begun.
The talks are expected to address some of the most contentious issues in U.S.-Iran relations, including Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and its right to continue enrichment. These disputes have long been at the center of international concern over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Regional tensions remain high. The war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s close ally, has threatened to destabilize the ceasefire, though conditions have been relatively calm since Sunday. Israeli leaders have voiced strong opposition to the U.S.-Iran framework, insisting their forces will maintain positions in southern Lebanon and respond to any perceived threats.
International observers say the return of IAEA inspectors could help rebuild trust, but warn that the path to a comprehensive deal remains fraught. European diplomats welcomed the progress but emphasized that verification and enforcement mechanisms will be critical.
The negotiations matter globally because Iran’s nuclear program has been a flashpoint for decades, shaping Middle East security and influencing energy markets. A durable agreement could ease regional tensions, while failure risks renewed conflict and instability.
For now, the Burgenstock talks signal cautious optimism. Whether the “foundation” laid by Vance and Iranian negotiators can support a lasting settlement will be tested in the weeks ahead.
