JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, has been identified at a luxury resort in Switzerland in the company of Iranian negotiators, according to sources within British intelligence. The encounter, which took place over the weekend at the Dolder Grand hotel in Zurich, has prompted alarm among UK officials who fear it could undermine Western diplomatic efforts regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
The meeting was not officially sanctioned by the US State Department or the British Foreign Office. Vance, a senator from Ohio and running mate to former President Donald Trump, has been a vocal critic of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which he has described as “catastrophic.” His presence at the resort coincided with a scheduled break in ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations, of which the UK is a member.
UK intelligence sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed disquiet at the development. “It is highly irregular for a candidate for high office to engage directly with a state that is currently the subject of extensive diplomatic negotiation,” one source said. “There are significant concerns about the potential for mixed messages or the undermining of established positions.”
The Iranian delegation at the resort was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a key figure in Tehran’s nuclear negotiating team. Vance was observed in conversation with Araghchi in a private dining area of the hotel, although the content of their discussion remains unknown.
A spokesperson for the Trump-Vance campaign declined to comment on the specifics of the meeting, stating only that “Senator Vance is committed to advancing American interests and is engaged in a wide range of international discussions.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
The incident comes at a delicate juncture for international diplomacy. Talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, have recently stalled over disagreements on sanctions relief and uranium enrichment levels. The UK, along with France and Germany, has been acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Professor Sir Michael Clarke, a former director of the Royal United Services Institute, said the meeting could have unintended consequences. “The appearance of a presidential candidate meeting with Iranian officials outside the formal process sends a signal that US policy might be subject to change if Mr Trump returns to office,” he said. “This could embolden Iran to hold out for more concessions or, conversely, harden the position of European negotiators who fear being undercut.”
The Biden administration has so far not commented publicly on the meeting. However, a senior State Department official told the BBC that “any unauthorised contact with Iranian officials is unhelpful and potentially damaging to our national security interests.”
The resort at which the meeting took place, the Dolder Grand, is known for hosting discreet diplomatic encounters due to its secluded location and high level of security. It has previously been the site of unofficial talks between rival factions in various conflicts.
Vance’s involvement in foreign policy has been a subject of scrutiny since his selection as Trump’s running mate. He has advocated for a more isolationist approach, arguing that the US should reduce its commitments abroad. His meeting with Iranian negotiators may be seen as an attempt to signal a potential shift in policy should the Republican ticket win the November election.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been briefed on the situation and is expected to raise the matter with US Ambassador to Britain Jane Hartley. The development is also likely to feature in discussions at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.
For now, the full implications of the Vance meeting remain unclear. But the episode has already injected fresh uncertainty into an already fraught diplomatic landscape, underscoring the challenges of maintaining a unified Western front in the face of potential political change in the United States.
