The US and Iran began peace talks in Switzerland to address the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. These discussions occurred despite President Donald Trump's renewed threats of strikes if Hezbollah continues its attacks on Israel.
Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were key attendees at the meetings in Bürgenstock. Topics included deconfliction mechanisms for the Strait of Hormuz, enforcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, US sanctions, and the return of frozen Iranian assets. Iranian officials, quoted by their state news agency ISNA, emphasized a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon, including Israeli withdrawal, and the fate of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
Trump concurrently issued a social media post threatening further strikes on Iran if its "highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon" did not cease causing trouble. He also warned Iran about collecting tolls if no deal is reached and explicitly stated that if Iran closes Hormuz, "You won't even make it back" to Iran. These threats arose after Iran accused Israel of violating a truce in Lebanon and reiterated a threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, though millions of barrels of oil continued to flow through it.
The talks follow a hard-won interim agreement which led Washington to lift a naval blockade of Iranian ports and promise to waive sanctions, with Iran pledging to reopen Hormuz, a critical conduit for about a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies. A resolution to the conflict in Lebanon is considered crucial for the success of these US-Iran negotiations.
