- Muhammad Faizan Khan
- 17 Minutes ago
Top-level US-Iran peace talks set to begin at Swiss resort with Hormuz in spotlight
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- Web Desk
- 2 Minutes ago
BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland: US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf were set to open high-stakes peace talks on Sunday at a Swiss mountaintop resort, as both sides seek to end months of conflict while remaining divided over Tehran’s claim that it has closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The negotiations come under a 60-day ceasefire agreement, though tensions escalated on Saturday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The US military, however, said commercial shipping through the waterway continued uninterrupted.
The dispute threatens to complicate talks aimed at advancing an interim deal brokered by Pakistan and signed last week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to end nearly four months of war.
Vance arrived at the scenic Buergenstock resort after landing at Emmen Air Base earlier in the day, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance. The venue, accessed via a narrow road lined with security checkpoints and armed guards, has been placed under tight security with helicopters seen circling overhead.
Vance hopeful of progress on nuclear, Lebanon issues
Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said the talks, including mediators, were expected to begin during the morning.
Speaking before departing Washington, Vance said he hoped the discussions would yield progress on both the nuclear file and the Lebanon ceasefire.
“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” he told reporters, adding that talks could last “a couple of days.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz could be at risk, accusing Israel of violating ceasefire commitments through continued strikes in Lebanon.
Despite the warning, US Central Command said 55 merchant vessels carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil transited the strait on Saturday, vowing to ensure continued commercial navigation.
US President Donald Trump said there would be no toll for passage through the strait during the ceasefire or after, unless Washington decided otherwise if negotiations failed.
In a social media post, Trump suggested the US could impose a future toll “for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East” if a peace deal is not reached.
Iran accuses US of failing commitments
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused Washington of failing to implement key provisions of the agreement, including a ceasefire across all fronts.
He said energy flows in the region would remain disrupted until commitments were fully implemented.
Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, however, said hundreds of investment opportunities could open if Western stakeholders adhered to the spirit of the agreement, according to the ministry’s news outlet Shana.
Delegations arrive amid tight security
The Iranian delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi along with senior security, central bank and oil officials, Iranian media reported.
The US delegation includes Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would press for full implementation of commitments, citing past failures by the other side.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also arrived at the resort to participate in as a host of the talks.
Lebanon conflict continues despite ceasefire
Despite the broader diplomatic push, violence continued in Lebanon. Lebanese civil defence officials said Israeli strikes killed 20 people on Saturday, hours after a truce took effect.
Israel said it was responding to attacks by Hezbollah, which said it would not allow Israeli “freedom of movement” in Lebanon.
Israel has said it is not a party to the US-Iran agreement and will continue operations against perceived threats. Its military said it remained committed to the ceasefire but would act against any security risks.
A poll by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, shared with Reuters, showed about 92 per cent of Israelis believe Iran benefited more than Israel from the joint US-Israeli military campaign, while only 8 per cent viewed Israel as having come out ahead.
Nearly 90 per cent said Israel had failed to achieve its war objectives, and fewer than 30 per cent believed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of major success.
Lebanon’s health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed 4,057 people since March 2, including women, children and medical workers. Israel says at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in fighting with Hezbollah.
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