According to the vice president, negotiators achieved measurable progress across several strategic priorities that the U.S. delegation brought into the discussions. He emphasized that the goal was not just short-term stabilization, but a structured approach to preventing future crises from erupting.
“We made a lot of good progress. We did exactly what we wanted to do, which is accomplish four things for the American people,” he said.
Among the most significant developments, Vance highlighted efforts related to securing global energy routes. One of the central objectives, he explained, was ensuring continued stability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil transport that has long been vulnerable to geopolitical disruption.
Vance noted that keeping the waterway open was a key success point in the early phase of negotiations.
“One goal of the talks was to “build a mechanism for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.””
He went on to say that stability in the region has already shown early economic effects, pointing to movement in global energy markets following the talks.
“It is open. We’ve seen of course gas prices, oil prices come down,” he said, noting that the goal of this phase of the agreement was to find a way to resolve conflicts before they escalate.
Another major point of discussion involved nuclear oversight and international monitoring. Vance said Iranian officials had agreed to re-engage with global inspectors, which he described as a critical step in preventing future nuclear escalation.
“The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearizing — permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran,” Vance said.
While the vice president described the negotiations as productive overall, he acknowledged that the process was not without friction. He characterized parts of the discussions as tense but ultimately manageable, suggesting that both sides remained at the table despite disagreements.
“Yes, there was a little bit of threatening, there was a little bit of whining, but at the end of the day, the talks continued, and we made great progress,” Vance said, according to CNBC.
Beyond immediate security concerns, Vance also emphasized a broader diplomatic vision aimed at reducing the likelihood of regional escalation. He described ongoing efforts to establish structured communication channels designed to prevent misunderstandings from spiraling into open conflict.
“We want a regional ceasefire. We want Hezbollah to stop firing at our friends in Israel. We want Israelis to be able to live in peace. We also want to make sure that, when things happen, they don’t spiral into a broader escalation, and so we’ve been, I think, very good at setting up what we’re calling a deconfliction mechanism,” he continued.
Economic dimensions were also part of the negotiations. Vance pointed to a proposal involving former White House adviser Jared Kushner and Qatari mediators, which he said could shape how frozen Iranian assets might be managed in the future. The idea, he suggested, reflects a broader approach linking economic incentives with diplomatic progress.
“What Jared and the Qataris and the entire team here in Bürgenstock accomplished is to me a classic Trump deal, where if Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, they’re going to go to make American farmers richer and to feed the Iranian people,” Vance said.
He added that the proposal represents what he views as a mutually beneficial framework that supports both humanitarian needs and American economic interests.
“That’s a very, very good and very classic Trump deal. That’s great for our people, great for the people of Iran, and fundamentally, again, will contribute to this regional security architecture that we’ve built,” he said.
A senior U.S. diplomat told NBC News that negotiations were expected to continue late into Sunday night as technical teams worked through unresolved issues.
“We’ve had robust discussions on all elements of the nuclear deal,” the official said. “We plan to continue working through each of these issues and using today’s work as a starting point for ongoing technical talks going forward.”
Meanwhile, Qatari officials issued a statement summarizing the day’s proceedings, emphasizing coordination efforts aimed at preventing misunderstandings in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The statement described a new communication framework designed to improve maritime safety and reduce the risk of incidents involving commercial shipping.
“To avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz,” Iran and the U.S. have developed a process for talking over each incident.
Officials added that technical discussions would continue throughout the week at the Swiss venue, with mediators encouraging a constructive atmosphere aimed at achieving a final agreement.
“Technical talks will continue for the remainder of the week at the Bürgenstock resort on all issues. The mediating parties will continue to do their utmost to ensure that the negotiations continue to be conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of reaching a final deal,” the statement said.
