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Middle East crisis live: US talks with Iran set to continue despite Iranian walkout
TL;DR
US-Iran talks in Switzerland ended with a roadmap for a final deal in 60 days, despite tensions. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump threatened military action if it remained closed.
Key points
- US and Iran held face-to-face talks in Switzerland
- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz during negotiations
- Trump threatened military action against Iran
- Agreed roadmap for a final deal in 60 days
- Mediators included Qatar and Pakistan
Mentioned in this story
USIranSwitzerlandStrait of HormuzDonald TrumpQatarPakistanBuergenstockLebanon
From
The first round of face-to-face talks between the US and Iran ended in Switzerland on Monday, mediators said, after a tense opening marked by Tehran saying it had again closed the strait of Hormuz and Donald Trump repeating his threats to resume attacks on Iran.
Mediators Qatar and Pakistan said Washington and Tehran agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal within 60 days and that technical talks would continue for the rest of the week in the Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock.
The parties agreed to a mechanism to end Israel’s war in Lebanon and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passages for commercial ships through the Hormuz strait, according to the joint statement which said that the first session of talks under the US-Iran agreement had concluded.
Just before the high-stakes talks officially began on Sunday, Fox News reported that Trump said he had told Iranian officials regarding the strait of Hormuz: “You close it and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your fucking country.” Trump also reiterated an earlier threat that the US would take over the strait and possibly charge a toll of its own, it said.
In other developments:
- The talks had a tense start, with Iranian negotiators walking out in protest against Trump’s threats. Iranian state media said the talks had entered a “difficult phase” and recessed after the “publication of an insulting message by the US president”. But high-level negotiations continued before concluding in the early hours of Monday, with Pakistan and Qatar saying technical talks between the two sides would continue for the rest of the week.
- After Trump’s threats became public, the Iranian delegation refused to return to the room where talks were held, though messages were still being traded via Pakistani and Qatari mediators, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Q&A
What was the outcome of the US-Iran talks in Switzerland?
The talks ended with an agreement on a roadmap towards a final deal within 60 days.
Why did Iran close the Strait of Hormuz during the negotiations?
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz as part of its ongoing tensions with the US, which were highlighted during the talks.
What threats did Donald Trump make regarding the Strait of Hormuz?
Trump threatened that if Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, the US would take military action and possibly take control of the strait.
Who mediated the US-Iran talks in Switzerland?
The talks were mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.
