Direct talks between the United States and Iran are scheduled to begin in Switzerland despite renewed tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran claims it has closed in response to Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon. The US military has disputed the claim, insisting that maritime traffic through the strategic waterway remains uninterrupted.Iran said the move followed Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which it described as a violation of its agreement with Washington aimed at ending the conflict. Late Saturday, US Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for the negotiations, while an Iranian delegation led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already arrived in Switzerland.
The latest round of talks is expected to begin on Sunday, with discussions focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon. Vance expressed optimism ahead of the meeting, saying he hoped progress could be made on both issues. Speaking before his departure, the US vice president said conditions in Lebanon appeared to be improving despite recent hostilities. He stressed that the objective remained ensuring the safety and security of both Israel and Lebanon while promoting stability across the wider Middle East.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran would insist that all parties honour their commitments under the agreement. Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif is expected to attend the opening of the talks, with Pakistan continuing its role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. The negotiations come days after US and Iranian leaders signed a preliminary agreement intended to end the conflict, including fighting in Lebanon, and pave the way for a comprehensive deal within 60 days.
However, ongoing clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement continue to threaten the peace process. Lebanese authorities reported at least 47 deaths following Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, while the Israeli military said it targeted dozens of Hezbollah-linked sites and killed several militants. Four Israeli soldiers were also reported killed.
Although Israel and Hezbollah have continued exchanging fire since the US-Iran deal was announced, an immediate ceasefire between the two sides was confirmed on Friday. Israel had previously insisted its campaign against Hezbollah was separate from its conflict with Iran.Hezbollah has accused Israel of attempting to undermine the broader US-Iran agreement, while Washington has criticised continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Further complicating matters, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Israeli strikes violated ceasefire commitments and justified its announcement to close the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also accused Washington of failing to fully implement key provisions of the US-Iran agreement.The US military rejected the claim, with Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins stating that shipping traffic continued to move through the strait. According to US officials, 55 merchant vessels carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil transited the waterway on Saturday. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy routes, handling roughly 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products daily and facilitating hundreds of billions of dollars in global energy trade each year.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/
