Vice President JD Vance departed for Switzerland on Saturday ahead of technical-level talks on an interim ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran that aims to permanently halt fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin nuclear negotiations.
The discussions were initially scheduled to begin on Friday but were delayed due to an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that threatened to upend the fragile U.S.-Iranian ceasefire. Vance is set to lead a delegation that includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the pair tasked with spearheading U.S. diplomacy efforts in the president's second term.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have largely remained quiet on the deal as negotiations continue. The administration has cast the agreement as a diplomatic victory, with Vance emphasizing that billions of dollars would only flow to Iran if they comply with terms of the arrangement.
"The United States wins either way, but I think that what ultimately happens from here is very much up to the Iranians," Vance told Fox & Friends on Saturday. "Do they want to behave better? If so, great."
Administration officials have pointed to the 16 million barrels of oil that they say flowed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours as evidence that the waterway is functioning and commerce is moving freely.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics on Capitol Hill have expressed deep skepticism about provisions in the deal that would lift sanctions on Iran and provide access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund.
"The Iranian regime has not renounced its ultimate goal — 'Death to America, Death to Israel.' The regime will invest every penny it receives to further that aim," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a statement Thursday.
Wicker added: "President Trump has pursued peace through strength. I hope the intermediaries working on this deal are not undermining that objective."
Trump himself weighed in Saturday with a warning that he would impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz for U.S. services as what he called a "Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East" if a deal is not finalized by the end of the 60-day window.
"That would be for purposes of both past, present, and future reimbursement of costs," Trump wrote on social media.
What the Numbers Show
The 14-point memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week extends the ceasefire and restores unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for a 60-day period. The deal includes provisions on Iran's nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
According to Vance, approximately 16 million barrels of oil flowed through the waterway over the past 24 hours under the interim arrangement. The administration has described this as a "record" figure, though independent verification was not immediately available.
The deal includes access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran if certain conditions are met, along with sanctions relief tied to verified compliance with nuclear restrictions.
The Bottom Line
A key unresolved question is whether the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping. The U.S. maintains that it is, while Iran's top military command issued a statement Saturday claiming the waterway was once again closed. This discrepancy represents one of several technical issues to be resolved in Switzerland.
The next phase of negotiations will focus on Iran's nuclear program and its highly enriched uranium stockpile. Vance said the administration aims to make it "effectively impossible" for Iran to rebuild a nuclear weapons capability, even over an extended period.
Watch for whether technical delegations can resolve the shipping dispute before the 60-day window closes, and whether Congressional Republicans will attempt to block sanctions relief through legislation.