JD Vance has called the US-Iran negotiations taking place in Switzerland a “historic meeting”, saying that never before “outside of Islamabad and here … has the Iranian and American leadership met at such a high level.”

“What’s brought us to this moment is the president’s leadership and the president’s willingness to see a Middle East that is much different 10 years from now than it was 10 years ago,” he said, referring to US President Donald Trump.

He added that Trump had asked them to “turn over a new leaf” and “extend an outstretched hand” to Iran.

If Iran’s leadership was willing to give up its nuclear programme and “being a driver of regional instability”, he said, the US was willing to fundamentally transform its relationship with the country.

“We’ve already made great progress in the last few hours and I expect we will make additional progress in the hours to come,” he added.