US and Iran launch peace negotiations in Switzerland as Tehran warns of Strait of Hormuz closure
Delegations from the United States and Iran convened Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, to start 60 days of negotiations aimed at ending the Middle East war, with Vice President JD Vance expected to join special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Pakistan’s prime minister and army chief are also attending as mediators, while Tehran warned the process is at risk over continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Arrival in Bürgenstock
The Iranian delegation, led by parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived in Switzerland on Saturday evening, the Swiss foreign ministry confirmed. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati were also on the trip alongside senior security, central bank and oil sector officials. On the American side, Vice President JD Vance departed Washington that night, while special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had already spent several hours in Switzerland on Saturday handling technical groundwork.
The memorandum and 60-day clock
The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday that calls for a 60-day negotiating window to reach a definitive agreement. The nuclear programme is the central issue, and the deal requires a ceasefire on all fronts without exception, including Lebanon. The technical talks scheduled for Friday were postponed after an escalation in fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. On Sunday, representatives of both countries were to begin formal discussions with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators.
- US and Iran sign memorandum of understanding, outlining 60-day negotiation period and a ceasefire on all fronts.
- Negotiations originally scheduled to begin are postponed due to escalation of Israel-Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon.
- Iranian delegation arrives in Switzerland; Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for Israeli strikes.
- Technical talks begin in Bürgenstock with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar; US Vice President JD Vance expected to arrive.
Tensions over Lebanon and Hormuz
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned on Saturday that the agreement would be in jeopardy if commitments are not implemented quickly.
The other side must take the necessary measures as soon as possible, otherwise the entire protocol of agreement will be endangered.
The Islamic Republic announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon over recent days, saying further steps could follow to compel the enemy to honour the memorandum. Donald Trump responded by threatening that Washington would impose tolls on the strait if negotiations fail.
Mediators at the table
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir were also travelling to Switzerland to join the technical-level talks, the Pakistani government announced Saturday. Islamabad has served as a key intermediary since the ceasefire was first declared, and Qatari representatives were also present, according to statements from the Pakistani and Iranian foreign ministries. The discussions in Bürgenstock were designed to move from ceasefire implementation to a permanent end to the Middle East conflict.
Vance’s cautious optimism
Speaking to Fox News before his departure, Vance said he was confident the truce could hold and that he would remain in Switzerland for only a day or two.
I am very confident we can maintain the ceasefire. We are going to give this negotiation a chance.
He added he had no indication that the Strait of Hormuz had actually been closed. Witkoff and Kushner, he said, had already spent a few hours in Switzerland working on technical elements of the talks.
