US Vice President JD Vance abruptly postponed his planned overnight flight to Switzerland for the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding with Iran, the White House confirmed late Thursday. A spokesman cited unresolved logistical arrangements for the next phase of technical talks, noting that “the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable.” The announcement came hours after reports from Hezbollah-affiliated media that Tehran had suspended its own delegation’s departure, objecting to continued Israeli military operations deeper than 10 kilometres inside southern Lebanon, which it deemed a violation of the newly signed framework agreement. The Swiss foreign ministry had earlier indicated talks would begin on Friday, but both sides now appear to be recalibrating.\n\nThe MoU, signed electronically by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 17 June, launched a 60-day window for broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, facing criticism from within his own Republican Party that the deal concedes too much to Tehran, defended the agreement as necessary to avert economic catastrophe, warning that further bombing would close the strait and risk a “worldwide depression.” In Iran, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei acknowledged he had approved the deal despite holding a “different view,” after receiving assurances from Pezeshkian that the nation’s rights would be protected. The US military has already begun easing its naval blockade, allowing more than a dozen vessels to transit to and from Iranian ports, while maintaining a monitoring presence.\n\nVance, who has become the public face of the administration’s Iran diplomacy, used a White House briefing to push back against critics. He insisted the deal is built on verification, not trust, and that Iran would only access a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund and sanctions relief if it demonstrably ends its nuclear programme and halts enrichment. He also issued an extraordinary rebuke to Israeli cabinet members who have attacked the agreement, saying they should not be “attacking the only powerful ally” Israel has left. Tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have sharpened over the deal’s requirement that Israeli forces withdraw from southern Lebanon, which Israel has refused to do.\n\nViewed from European capitals, the delay underscores the fragility of a process that lacks formal diplomatic relations between the two adversaries. The technical talks, once they begin, are expected to focus on uranium enrichment limits, verification mechanisms, and long-term compliance. Vance said he still intends to travel to Switzerland, possibly this weekend, but timing depends on the Iranians’ arrival. With oil prices stabilising after months of disruption and more than 12.5 million barrels moving through the Strait of Hormuz in a single night, the economic stakes are immense. Analysts in London note that the coming weeks will test whether the interim framework can be translated into a durable settlement, or whether the logistical hiccups are a harbinger of deeper political obstacles.