Talks between Iran and the United States aimed at building out a fragile interim deal have begun in Switzerland, with the US Vice-President JD Vance leading the American delegation. The discussions are complicated by Iran's decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed in protest at Donald Trump's inability to force Israel to end fighting in Lebanon.
Vance expands agenda to include Lebanon
Vance said he was adding Lebanon to an agenda originally focused on opening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting US sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and unfreezing Iranian assets held overseas. He arrived at a Qatari-owned Swiss mountainside resort in Bürgenstock on Sunday to meet Iranian negotiators for the second time since the conflict began, having previously held direct talks in Islamabad.
The Iranian delegation is led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with the deputy oil minister and central bank governor also present, indicating Iran's focus on sanctions relief. The first clause of the memorandum of understanding published last week requires a ceasefire on all fronts including Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated.
Vance's remarks on progress
Vance stated: "I think we're going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we're to be focused on." He noted he could only join the talks "for a day or two." The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that US and Iranian delegations, plus mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, were present at the luxury resort.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran would meet mediators in the morning and hold a four-way meeting with mediators and the US in the afternoon.
Impact of Hormuz closure
The practical impact of Iran's decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed remains untested. Trump claimed last week that the world was four weeks from running out of sufficient refined oil and that a worldwide recession would have occurred if he had not agreed to reopen the strait by lifting the US blockade on Iranian oil ports. He faces criticism from US supporters of Israel angered by personal attacks on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Trump and Vance.
Internal Iranian disputes
The Iranian delegation arrived amid a furious row in Tehran between advocates of negotiations and those who insist pursuing an agreement with the US is purposeless. Mahmoud Nabavian, a long-term critic and delegation member, claimed the negotiations were "fundamentally different" from conditions approved by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Khamenei had published a letter opposing talks but permitted them to proceed so long as the interests of the axis of resistance, including Hezbollah, were protected.
Nabavian's appearance on state TV was cut short, and legal action was announced against him. A senior state broadcaster official reportedly resigned. Nabavian claimed correspondence from the supreme leader three times limited the talks' scope, stating: "What was achieved in the negotiations is completely different from what was supposed to be done." He also said Khamenei emphasized Iran's monopoly on Strait of Hormuz management, including toll collection from passing vessels and restrictions on enemy ships.
Pezeshkian defends negotiations
President Masoud Pezeshkian tried to calm tensions, saying: "All the provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States are in our favour, and the achievements of this dialogue and negotiation will be made clear." He noted Trump's words had changed 180 degrees, adding: "Trump, who forbade us from doing many things, in his recent speech considered all of them the right of the people and the nation. Our $6bn in money will be returned from Qatar."
Pezeshkian pointed out that Netanyahu was the first to be dissatisfied with the negotiations. He stated the only American demand was that Iran not have atomic bombs, something the martyred leader had said many times: "We do not want atomic bombs." He added: "The United States said 'write this and sign it' and we signed."
Scepticism from Tehran
Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Khamenei, posted on X: "The enemy has shown itself to be a promise-breaker," and warned: "One should be cautious; any optimism will be exploited by the enemy." Hojjatoleslam Sadeghi, the supreme leader's representative to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said: "Our enmity with arrogance will never end. We are not negotiating to reconcile, but rather to get our rights."
Washington announced a renewed ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, but Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah fighters the following day, with each side accusing the other of breaking the truce. Citing a US "breach of contract," Iran's central military command said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz to vessel traffic.
