2 hours ago
An awkward exchange involving Qatar's Prime Minister and JD Vance marked the opening of the US-Iran talks in Switzerland. The incident and Iran's early gestures underscored the difficult mood around the new negotiations.
A video has gone viral showing the Qatari PM appearing to snub JD Vance at the US-Iran talks in Switzerland.
UPDATED: Jun 22, 2026 08:42 IST
The opening of the US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland was marked by an awkward diplomatic moment as Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani appeared to walk past US Vice President JD Vance, despite Doha’s close alliance with Washington and its role as a mediator.
The unusual exchange unfolded at the Burgenstock resort on Sunday, where the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan gathered for the first round of negotiations under the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Footage from the venue appeared to show Sheikh Mohammed approaching the reception area, where Vance was positioned alongside other officials.
Instead of stopping for a greeting, the Qatari leader appeared to move towards Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Asim Munir, greeting them warmly with handshakes and embraces.
The optics drew attention because Qatar has long been a close security partner of the US and has played a central role as a mediator in regional conflicts, including between Washington and Tehran.
The awkward moment came as Iran’s delegation also maintained a tough posture ahead of the talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reportedly declined to take part in a planned joint photo opportunity with US officials before negotiations began.
Footage later showed Araqchi entering a room where Vance and members of the US delegation, including special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were present.
The Iranian Foreign Minister greeted Sharif with a handshake and embrace before leaving shortly afterwards.
The body language from Geneva tells the WHOLE story by itself
Araghchi walks in. Shehbaz goes in for the hug, clearly expecting the agreed script to play out.
Then Araghchi makes clear Iran isn't doing the photo-op or the opening speeches. And you can watch the https://t.co/IR2fCReYKk— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 21, 2026
Iranian state media portrayed the refusal to join the photo opportunity as a deliberate move, while US officials disputed that account, saying Tehran had earlier agreed to the media appearance and had brought its own state media representatives to cover the event, reports The New York Post
The talks themselves also faced early turbulence, with Iranian media reporting that Tehran’s delegation left the venue after around 80 minutes, citing a “difficult phase” in discussions following US President Donald Trump’s latest warnings against Iran.
The Switzerland meeting marked the first round of negotiations under the 14-point memorandum signed last week, which includes a 60-day ceasefire extension and a roadmap towards a broader agreement.
However, major issues remain unresolved, including Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and other nuclear-related concerns.
- Ends
Published By:
Karishma Saurabh Kalita
Published On:
Jun 22, 2026 08:42 IST
