US Vice President JD Vance said Washington may consider unfreezing certain Iranian assets for agricultural imports
June 22, 2026: US Vice President JD Vance on Monday indicated that the United States could allow some frozen Iranian assets to be used for the purchase of agricultural products such as soy, corn, and wheat. Speaking after the latest round of negotiations with Iran, Vance said the discussions had created a strong foundation for a future agreement. He described the current progress as the groundwork for a larger deal that could eventually end months of tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The Swiss-mediated talks, held at the Bürgenstock resort near Lake Lucerne, brought together senior officials from both countries. Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf led the discussions, while Pakistan and Qatar acted as mediators. In a joint statement, the mediators said technical-level negotiations would continue later this week, highlighting progress on maintaining access through the Strait of Hormuz and preserving the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Although negotiations were briefly disrupted by comments from US President Donald Trump, talks later resumed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the mediation efforts as a step forward, particularly regarding Lebanon. The discussions are part of a broader 60-day framework established last week to address key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, frozen assets, regional security concerns, and the stability of critical global energy routes.