During a confidential meeting in Switzerland last Sunday, the phone of Mohammad-Baqir Qalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, was out of reach. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a threat on Truth Social that he would resume strikes against Iran if “Hezbollah” activity in Lebanon was not curbed. According to informed sources, one of Qalibaf’s aides conveyed the contents of the message to him, triggering a direct confrontation with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Qalibaf told Vance that Trump’s statement violated the electronic memorandum of understanding signed just days earlier, the first article of which forbids aggressive actions by both sides. In an interview with Iranian television, Qalibaf stressed: “I told Vance: your president today issued threats. Understand this: we never conduct negotiations under pressure.” The Iranian side rejected the U.S. proposal for another round of direct contacts, and the talks almost fell apart.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Vance was justifying Trump’s post as a clarification of what would happen if Tehran violated future understandings. The American official denied any link between the posting and the pause, saying that the break was needed for Iran to study the proposals. However, the Iranian delegation left the meeting hall, and further contacts were conducted only through intermediaries from Pakistan and Qatar.
Sources note that this is not the first time Trump’s impulsive posts have caused chaos in diplomatic talks with Tehran. Intermediaries have repeatedly warned that such actions could undermine the chances of an agreement. Iranian negotiators, according to their own accounts, studied Trump’s 1987 book The Art of the Deal and even brought in psychologists to analyze his negotiating style, although Tehran officially denies this and insists on a strictly fact-based approach.
During the discussions, Iran managed to block U.S. attempts to put issues related to the IAEA on the agenda. Key unresolved problems remain ahead: the status of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, and its ballistic missiles. Analysts doubt that Trump’s forceful style, based on public pressure, will bring concrete concessions from Iran in the near term.
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- Who is Mohammad-Baqir Qalibaf and why is his role in Iranian politics important for understanding the talks? — Mohammad-Baqir Qalibaf is the speaker of Iran’s parliament (Majlis) and a former mayor of Tehran, as well as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His role matters because he represents the conservative wing of Iranian politics and directly influences the legislative process, including the approval or blocking of any international agreements. Understanding his positions helps explain internal disagreements in Iran over negotiations with the West.
- Why do U.S. threats against “Hezbollah” in Lebanon concern Iran’s interests? — Hezbollah is Iran’s key ally in Lebanon and part of Iran’s influence network in the Middle East. U.S. threats are seen by Tehran as a direct attack on its strategic interests, especially in the context of the struggle for regional influence. Iran views Hezbollah as a tool to deter Israel and the United States, so any actions against this group could prompt retaliatory steps by Iran.
- What is the significance of the Strait of Hormuz for Iran’s economy and global energy security? — The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic passage through which about 20% of all the world’s oil flows. For Iran, controlling it is a lever in negotiations and a source of revenue from oil exports. For the global economy, blocking the strait could cause a sharp jump in energy prices and a global energy crisis, making Iran a key player in energy security issues.
Full version: وول ستريت جورنال تكشف كواليس مواجهة كادت تنهي مفاوضات سويسرا