Overview
Talks between the United States and Iran are being held in Switzerland and remain ongoing despite reports from two semi‑official Iranian media outlets that Tehran’s delegation had walked out after President Donald Trump threatened fresh strikes over Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon. Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, confirmed that negotiators are still engaged at the venue.
Key Statements and Threats
President Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran must immediately stop its “highly paid proxies in Lebanon” or the United States will hit Iran “very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder.” This statement preceded the media reports of a walkout.
Negotiating Window and Participants
The diplomatic track operates within a tentative 60‑day negotiating window that could collapse before a formal framework to avert a wider regional war is established. U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland ahead of the meeting, stating that the immediate objective is to make progress on the nuclear issue and the Lebanon ceasefire. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir are also expected to attend, adding two key mediators.
Iran’s delegation, according to state media, includes Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. The negotiations were delayed earlier in the week after renewed clashes in southern Lebanon between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Memorandum of Understanding and Ongoing Tensions
Although a memorandum of understanding (MoU) halted direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran, tensions persist over its implementation and the future of Iran’s nuclear activities. The MoU also included a pledge by the United States to lift a naval blockade of Iranian ports and to provide sanctions waivers on Iranian oil exports, while Tehran committed to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz Developments
Iran renewed its order to close the Strait of Hormuz to new permits, despite previously agreeing to reopen the strategic waterway under the MoU. Iran’s Fars news agency, citing a military source, said no new permits were being issued for ships to cross until further notice. The strait handles roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas shipments. U.S. Central Command reported that on Saturday commercial traffic increased, with 55 merchant vessels carrying 17 million barrels of oil transiting the route. President Trump said no transit tolls should be imposed during the negotiation period, warning against measures that could hinder commercial traffic.
Focus of the Talks
The talks are expected to concentrate on Iran’s nuclear program, implementation of the Lebanon ceasefire framework, and broader regional security issues, including ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.