Trump threatens Iran during Swiss peace talks, delegation walks out after calling message 'offensive'

A truce under strain

US and Iranian delegations met on Sunday at the Bürgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne, one week after a framework agreement that halted hostilities across the region. The interim deal, brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, called for an immediate ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent peace. US Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner led the American side. Iran's team included chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi.

Trump's intervention

Less than two hours into the talks, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social demanding Iran "immediately stop its highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble." He warned that failure would bring "very hard" military strikes, "like last week, only harder." The threat came as Hezbollah, Iran's Lebanese ally, engaged in intense clashes with Israeli forces. Trump also signaled, according to a Fox News report cited by Reuters, that the US could seize control of the Strait of Hormuz if Tehran kept it closed.

“Iran must immediately stop its highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble. Otherwise we will attack Iran again very hard, like last week, only harder.”

Walkout and protest

Iranian state media IRNA reported that the delegation left the hotel after the "publication of an offensive message from the US president." The talks, which had lasted 80 minutes, entered a "difficult phase" and were suspended. The Iranian team met with Qatari mediators before departing. Agency Tasnim added that any threat, even under the interim pact, constitutes a breach entitling Tehran to respond. Ghalibaf wrote on X: "Whatever they say, we are the ones who act," asserting Iran's forces were ready to react differently.

“Whatever they say, we are the ones who act.”

Talks in limbo

A report in Bild, citing Iranian state media, indicated the delegation later returned to the venue but did not resume negotiations. No official statements emerged from either side on next steps. The Bürgenstock site, secured by Swiss police and military, remained a media void with journalists confined to a press center. Organisers said the talks were scheduled through Monday evening.

What was on the table

Beyond the ceasefire, the framework foresees sanctions relief, limits on Iran's nuclear programme, and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the walkout, Vice President Vance claimed "great progress" had been made and that Trump wished to open "a new chapter." Iran, for its part, had reiterated its right to uranium enrichment while denying any pursuit of nuclear weapons. The Hezbollah-Israel front, not being a direct party to the accord, emerged as the immediate flashpoint.