Emmen: A new round of negotiations concerning the ongoing Middle East conflict commenced on Sunday as Iranian negotiators and US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland. This development comes amidst Iran's recent announcement to close the Strait of Hormuz due to Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
According to TRTworld.com, the scheduled talks, initially set for Friday, were postponed following Israel's deadly strikes in Lebanon. Despite a renewed ceasefire announced by Washington on Friday, Israeli operations in Lebanon persisted, violating the truce and escalating tensions. Iran cited "a US breach of contract" and "the Zionist regime's continuous and relentless violation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon" as reasons for its decision to block the vital Hormuz Strait-a key channel for global oil and gas shipments. This closure had previously sent shockwaves through energy markets before being reopened under a preliminary accord between US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In response to Iran's actions, US Central Command assured that safe passage through the waterway remained secured, with US forces maintaining vigilance in the area. President Trump warned of potential US-imposed tolls on the Strait if negotiations faltered, stating on Truth Social that tolls would only apply "unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America."
The Iranian delegation, which arrived in Switzerland late Saturday, includes parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The delegation aims to "demand implementation of the other party's commitments" under the current agreement, according to IRNA, Iran's official news agency. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei emphasized the potential jeopardy to the entire agreement if commitments remain unmet.
Meanwhile, Vice President Vance reached Emmen Air Base on Sunday morning, indicating his brief stay of "a day or two." US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, already on-site, reported favorable progress on technical discussions, Vance noted in a Fox News interview.
As part of the mediation efforts, Pakistan announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir departed for Switzerland to participate in the high-level talks, which include representatives from the US, Iran, and other mediators from Qatar. These discussions aim to initiate a two-month negotiation period addressing unresolved issues from the initial accord, particularly Iran's nuclear program.