The United States and Iranian delegation have begun high-level direct talks at Bürgenstock in Switzerland aimed at strengthening the fragile interim agreement between the two countries and advancing efforts to end the West Asia conflict. US Vice-President, JD Vance is leading the US delegation while Iran’s delegation is being led by Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks are being mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.
The meeting comes as Tehran said, the Strait of Hormuz is closed again over Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, but the US military said the waterway remains open to all vessels.
The first clause of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington published last week requires a ceasefire on all fronts including Lebanon, where fighting has escalated between Israel and the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah.
US Vice President met top Iranian leaders with discussion focusing on Iran’s nuclear programme, regional stability and keeping the vital Strait of Hormuz open.
Speaking to media ahead of the meeting. US Vice President JD Vance called it a historic moment as peace talks between the two countries. He said, the goal was to turn over a new leaf to transform the relationship between the US and Iran.
The US delegation which comprises Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also held a meeting with the Pakistani mediating team today while the Iranian negotiating team and Qatari mediators also held talks in Burgenstock.
Meanwhile as the peace talks began, US President Donald Trump today threatened to attack Iran again. In a social media post, President Trump said Iran might face a similar or more intense attack if it did not stop its proxies, or Hezbollah, in Lebanon, from causing trouble.
On the other hand, according to the Iranian media, President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that 6 billion US dollars in frozen funds currently in Qatar’s possession will be returned to Iran as part of the preliminary deal with the US to end the war.
