JD Vance watches as Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani greets Shehbaz Sharif at talks in Switzerland. Photo: AFP
A video from high-level US-Iran talks held in Switzerland on Sunday, June 21, has gone viral after appearing to show Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warmly greeting Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while US Vice President JD Vance stood nearby.
The footage was recorded at the Burgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, where representatives from the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar met for a fresh round of negotiations aimed at advancing a framework agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Social media users shared the clip widely, with some claiming Vance had been “humiliated” during the diplomatic gathering. However, no government involved in the talks has publicly characterised the interaction as a snub.
In the footage, Sheikh Mohammed approaches a group of officials and exchanges greetings with Sharif. Vance, who is standing nearby, does not appear to interact with the Qatari leader during the brief exchange.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also seen greeting Sharif. Reports from the venue indicated that no joint photograph involving all delegations was taken during the opening stage of the meeting.
The Switzerland talks form part of broader diplomatic efforts to build on a recently agreed ceasefire framework and explore a longer-term political settlement.
Qatar and Pakistan are acting as key mediators in the negotiations. Earlier, Doha said it was cautiously optimistic about the framework agreement, describing it as an important step towards further dialogue.
Speaking during the discussions, Vance said US President Donald Trump remained open to improving relations with Iran if Tehran complied with the terms of the evolving agreement.
Following the opening round of talks, mediators announced progress towards a roadmap for a final agreement within 60 days.
They also confirmed the establishment of communication channels intended to prevent misunderstandings and support the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Technical-level discussions are expected to continue in Switzerland as negotiators seek to translate the framework into a broader settlement.
This post was last modified on June 22, 2026 12:55 pm