U.S., Iran meet in Switzerland as fresh Trump threat angers Tehran
The U.S. and Iran began talks in Switzerland on a peace deal to settle the issue of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz as President Donald Trump once again threatened strikes if Hezbollah keeps attacking Israel.
Things got off to a confusing start Sunday when Iranian media reported that Iran halted talks over Trump’s latest threat, but people familiar with the matter said the talks were continuing.
The first high-level meetings of U.S., Iranian, Qatari and Pakistani representatives opened in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi among attendees.
As the meetings got under way, Trump said in a social media post that he would strike Iran again if it doesn’t “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble.”
He also warned Iran that the U.S. might start collecting tolls if there’s no deal. Speaking Sunday to Fox News,Trump said he told Iranian leaders directly that if they close Hormuz, “You won’t even make it back” to Iran, using an expletive.
While a hard-won interim deal has signaled a pause in U.S.-Iran hostilities, Sunday’s discussions are likely just the start of protracted wrangling that will span topics including Iran’s nuclear capabilities and economic relief for Tehran.
“What today really represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation that’s not going to solve every disagreement,” Vance told reporters, speaking alongside officials from Pakistan and Qatar, which are acting as mediators. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s global negotiators, have been engaged in ongoing technical talks.
A resolution to the fighting in Lebanon will be decisive for the success of the U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland, according to an official familiar with the discussions, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information. That means a positive outcome in the negotiations ultimately hinge on Israel’s support, the person added, with only a retreat from Lebanon fully ensuring that the intermediate deal can move forward.
Israel was not a party to the talks that led to the interim agreement.
Other issues in focus are the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. sanctions and the return of frozen Iranian assets, the person said. Four-party talks started at 2:45 p.m. local time and were continuing Sunday evening. The Swiss are keeping the venue ready until mid-morning on Monday, allowing negotiations to run until then if necessary.
Iranian envoys are focused on how the meeting will be received at home, the official said. That led to their delegation staying out of the room and refusing to participate in the opening televised remarks before discussions started because they did not want to be seen shaking hands with U.S....
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