U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that if Iran drops its will to develop nuclear weapons and stops playing a role in destabilizing the Middle East, the United States could fundamentally change its relationship with Iran.
Vance said on the 21st (local time) ahead of a four-way meeting among the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar at the Bürgenstock resort in Lucerne, Switzerland, "If Iran's leadership is willing to abandon its role in destabilizing the region and, in the long term, to give up nuclear weapons, the United States is prepared to fundamentally transform its relationship with Iran."
Vance said U.S. President Donald Trump asked the U.S. negotiating team to "deliver the message to open a new chapter in relations with the Iranian people." He added, "There has already been major progress in the past few hours, and we expect additional progress in the coming hours."
On the goal of the talks, Vance said it is "to change relationships in the Middle East through diplomacy and cooperation." He noted that Iran and the Gulf states have long maintained an adversarial relationship, and stressed that this meeting could be an opportunity to change that trajectory.
On the Lebanon issue, he assessed that there had been progress in maintaining the cease-fire in recent days. He said, "Peace is not easy and requires effort and concessions," adding, "The United States will continue to play a role in stopping the conflict in Lebanon."
Vance said that while the talks would not resolve every disagreement at once, they would serve as a venue for both sides to directly identify what they consider most important.
The public statements proceeded in the order of Vice President Vance, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The Iranian delegation did not appear before the press, and the talks moved behind closed doors after the public remarks.