Middle East live: US-Iran talks to begin in Switzerland as Tehran says it has closed strait of Hormuz
TL;DR
US-Iran peace talks are set to begin in Switzerland, while Iran claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Key points
- US-Iran peace talks are beginning in Switzerland
- Iran claims to have closed the Strait of Hormuz
- Seyyed Abbas Araghchi is Iran's foreign minister
- Talks are held at the Burgenstock resort near Lucerne
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Hello and welcome to our coverage of the latest in the Middle East and updates on the on going peace talks between the US and Iran.
Iran's minister of foreign affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi arrives at the Burgenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne on Sunday. Photograph: Urs Flüeler/AFP/Getty Images
Here are the latest developments:
- On Sunday delegations for the US and Iran delegations have arrived at Swiss resort for talks. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar will also be in attendance according to the Swiss foreign ministry. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier in June.
- This follows news that Iran has said it has closed the strait of Hormuz over continued strikes from Israel in Lebanon. On Sunday Iran’s Fars news agency agency cited a military source as saying that the strait of Hormuz remains closed and the Revolutionary Guards navy has not issued permission for any vessels to transit until further notice.
- Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 16 people, local authorities said.
- US vice-president JD Vance arrived at the Swiss mountainside resort of Burgenstock early on Sunday to meet Iranian negotiators for the second time.
- US Central Command says 55 merchant ships transited strait on Saturday.
Read our latest report here:
Iran has said it is closing the strait of Hormuz after waves of Israeli strikes in Lebanon in a move that threatens to derail the fragile interim peace deal with the US, signed just days ago.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned ships not to approach the strategic waterway, which before the war carried a fifth of global oil and liquid gas supplies, citing what it called Israeli crimes in Lebanon and a US violation of commitments to establish a ceasefire there.
It was unclear if the threat had been carried out, or if it would jeopardise talks in Switzerland scheduled for Sunday that were supposed to start the process of turning the current interim agreement between the US and Iran signed this week into a more detailed deal covering Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran said on Sunday that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon between Israel and militant group Hezbollah will top the agenda in talks with the US in Switzerland, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country’s oil.
“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said in a video shared by IRNA state news agency.
Tehran said on Thursday it had signed a deal with Washington to end months of hostilities that began on 28 February following US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Under the agreement, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon was also due to stop.
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 16 people, local authorities said, despite reports of a renewed ceasefire aiming to end the continuing clashes.
Lebanon’s civil defence agency said its personnel transported “16 dead and 12 wounded” to hospital, adding that they had been working “since the early morning hours” in the Nabatieh district.
Iran has said it is closing the strait of Hormuz after waves of Israeli strikes in Lebanon in a move that threatens to derail the fragile interim peace deal with the US, signed just days ago.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned ships not to approach the strategic waterway, which before the war carried a fifth of global oil and liquid gas supplies, citing what it called Israeli crimes in Lebanon and a US violation of commitments to establish a ceasefire there.
It was unclear if the threat had been carried out, or if it would jeopardise talks in Switzerland scheduled for Sunday that were supposed to start the process of turning the current interim agreement between the US and Iran signed this week into a more detailed deal covering Iran’s nuclear programme.
Donald Trump promptly declared that “NO TOLLS” would be charged on ships seeking to pass through the strait during or after the 60-day interim ceasefire. In a social media post on Saturday, however, he raised the prospect of the US imposing a toll should negotiations fail.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the latest in the Middle East and updates on the on going peace talks between the US and Iran.
Iran's minister of foreign affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi arrives at the Burgenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne on Sunday. Photograph: Urs Flüeler/AFP/Getty Images
Here are the latest developments:
- On Sunday delegations for the US and Iran delegations have arrived at Swiss resort for talks. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar will also be in attendance according to the Swiss foreign ministry. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier in June.
- This follows news that Iran has said it has closed the strait of Hormuz over continued strikes from Israel in Lebanon. On Sunday Iran’s Fars news agency agency cited a military source as saying that the strait of Hormuz remains closed and the Revolutionary Guards navy has not issued permission for any vessels to transit until further notice.
- Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 16 people, local authorities said.
- US vice-president JD Vance arrived at the Swiss mountainside resort of Burgenstock early on Sunday to meet Iranian negotiators for the second time.
- US Central Command says 55 merchant ships transited strait on Saturday.
Read our latest report here:
Iran has said it is closing the strait of Hormuz after waves of Israeli strikes in Lebanon in a move that threatens to derail the fragile interim peace deal with the US, signed just days ago.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned ships not to approach the strategic waterway, which before the war carried a fifth of global oil and liquid gas supplies, citing what it called Israeli crimes in Lebanon and a US violation of commitments to establish a ceasefire there.
It was unclear if the threat had been carried out, or if it would jeopardise talks in Switzerland scheduled for Sunday that were supposed to start the process of turning the current interim agreement between the US and Iran signed this week into a more detailed deal covering Iran’s nuclear programme.
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Q&A
What are the US-Iran talks about in Switzerland?
The US-Iran talks in Switzerland focus on ongoing peace negotiations between the two nations.
Why did Iran close the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran has stated it has closed the Strait of Hormuz, although the reasons for this action have not been detailed.
Who is representing Iran in the peace talks?
Iran's minister of foreign affairs, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, is representing the country in the peace talks.
Where are the US-Iran talks taking place?
The US-Iran talks are taking place at the Burgenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, Switzerland.
