Contrary to reports from several media outlets, US-Iranian talks in Swiss Burgenstock have not been interrupted, a US State Department representative said in an interview with Axios. The diplomat уточнил that consultations began on Sunday morning and continued uninterrupted in various formats. The main topics included the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear deal, mechanisms to prevent direct clashes, and implementation of the Lebanon ceasefire agreement. The talks were held both directly between Washington and Tehran and with intermediaries.
The parties paid special attention to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz following Tehran’s recent statements about the possibility of blocking it. The US delegation insisted on the unconditional preservation of freedom of navigation, and, according to the diplomat, “good progress” had been made on that front. In addition, all aspects of Iran’s nuclear program were discussed, along with mechanisms for implementing an earlier memorandum of understanding, which is intended to resolve the current crisis.
Participants agreed on a roadmap to continue the dialogue both at the senior leadership level and through technical working groups. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar actively helped narrow the gap between the parties, and all four participants in the process expressed satisfaction with the course of the first round. According to the American diplomat, these consultations laid “the groundwork for strengthening trust” ahead of the next stages.
However, the process was not without difficulties. Iranian media initially reported that the delegation had left the meeting venue in protest after harsh remarks by Donald Trump. CNN, citing a source familiar with the situation in Tehran, confirmed that the talks “stalled due to threats from the US president,” but did not collapse completely. At the same time, back-up communication channels were activated to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, and Pakistan’s interior minister met with the Iranian delegation in a “last attempt” to keep it engaged in dialogue.
The context of the talks is directly linked to the escalation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the strait to all ships in response to Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon. In an appearance on Fox News, Trump threatened that Iranian negotiators “will not be able to come home” if Tehran carries out the threat. The talks themselves are a continuation of the memorandum signed by the United States and Iran with Pakistan’s mediation back in June, which was meant to end the war that began at the end of February last year.
Comments on the news
What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and why exactly did it announce the closure of the Strait of Hormuz? – The IRGC is Iran’s elite military formation with enormous political and economic influence. It controls missile forces, the navy and intelligence. Closing the Strait of Hormuz is an extreme measure that the IRGC can implement because the strait is a strategic passage for oil tankers (about 20% of global oil transit). Announcing the closure is a way to demonstrate military power and pressure the United States and its allies, especially in the context of sanctions and threats.
What is the current status of the nuclear deal (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers, and why does it remain a central topic in the negotiations? – The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) is effectively frozen: the US withdrew from it in 2018, and Iran, in response, began enriching uranium to levels close to weapons-grade. Talks on reviving the deal have been conducted intermittently, but no agreement has yet been reached. This topic remains central because it determines the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran, the nuclear non-proliferation regime in the Middle East, and the balance of power in the region.
Why is a ceasefire in Lebanon being discussed in US-Iran talks? How is Iran connected to this conflict? – Iran is the main sponsor of the Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which takes part in regional conflicts, including clashes with Israel. A ceasefire in Lebanon is seen as part of a broader set of negotiations between the United States and Iran, because stability on Israel-Lebanon’s border is directly linked to Iranian influence. For the US and Israel, it is important to limit Hezbollah’s military activity, while for Iran it is important to keep it as a lever of pressure. Thus, the Lebanon track has become one of the items discussed alongside the nuclear program.
Full version: After reports of Iranian delegation leaving… US denies talks in Switzerland were halted