Vance urges press to distrust Iranian posts about negotiations
Vice President JD Vance dismissed rumors that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi snubbed him during recent negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland, urging skepticism about Iranian social media reports. Vance clarified that Iran’s actions-such as Araghchi entering and leaving negotiations without greeting him-should not be taken at face value, emphasizing the complexity of Iranian negotiators. he reported that Iran agreed to conditions on unfreezing funds, allowing the U.S. to direct money toward American priorities like soybean purchases, which could also benefit Iranians. Vance highlighted the lengthy negotiations and cautioned the media against trusting social media misinformation. He is optimistic about progress in the peace talks, which follow a recent memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran signed by President trump and Iranian officials. Key contentious issues remaining include the Strait of Hormuz, Israel-Hezbollah tensions, and iran’s nuclear restrictions. vance was in Switzerland for about 36 hours amidst ongoing efforts to negotiate a broader peace deal.
Vice President JD Vance dismissed speculation that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi snubbed him during this weekend’s negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland, imploring reporters to “mistrust” what they read on Iranian social media.
Vance issued the warning moments before departing Europe en route back to Washington, D.C., after the weekend’s first round of post-memorandum-of-understanding talks, during which Araghchi entered the main negotiating room before Vance arrived and left as the vice president took his seat at the table without greeting him.
Recommended Stories
“I’ve spent a lot of time dealing with the Iranians over the last few months,” Vance said Monday at Emmen Air Base. “Sometimes I find them extremely confusing as negotiators, but look, we had a little press conference. They obviously don’t quite have the same First Amendment protections [in] Iran that we have in the United States of America. We talked to you guys, and then had a series of really good meetings.”
The vice president reflected on the “social media firestorm” after his first meeting, “where everybody said the Iranians are going to leave.”
“Then we proceeded to talk to them for, like, the next nine hours,” he said. “So, I would just encourage the media, mistrust a little bit what you see coming out of Iranian social media. They can be confusing negotiators, but we feel like we’re making progress.”
During the brief press conference, Vance confirmed Iran agreed to conditions put on the release of Iranian frozen funds so the U.S. can “ensure that the money goes where we want it to go,” for example, toward U.S. soybean purchases.
“Even with that said, even with the caveat that’s going to benefit American farmers, [it] can obviously benefit the people of Iran,” he said. “Fundamentally, that money is not going to be unfrozen unless we continue to see progress, and that will obviously be a big part of the negotiation in the days to come.”
IN FOCUS: NEW YORK CITY ICE OPERATION PRESENTS MAMDANI-SHAPED OPPORTUNITY FOR GOP
Vance was in Switzerland for about 36 hours as the U.S. and Iran continue to negotiate the details of a broader peace deal at the Burgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the 14-point MOU last week.
Those details include the two countries’ more controversial areas of disagreement, from the safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of strikes between Israel and Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon to verifiable restrictions being placed on Iran’s nuclear program.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
