U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland enter difficult phase after threats

U.S. and Iranian negotiators met Sunday at a mountainside resort near Lake Lucerne to expand last week’s interim agreement on ending hostilities and addressing Iran’s nuclear program. The session lasted about 80 minutes and included separate meetings with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.

warnings The U.S. side called for Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and to stop support for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s parliamentary speaker posted that the country’s armed forces were prepared to respond to threats. >"Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble.

" — U.S. President Donald Trump, June 21, 2026 (Truth Social) >"Our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner. " — Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, June 21, 2026 (Le Monde) Iranian state media described the talks as entering a “difficult phase” after the U.S. president’s message and said the Iranian delegation later met with Qatari mediators before leaving the site.

oil access A renewed ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered Saturday, appeared to be holding after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 30 people the previous day. The interim agreement allows Iran to sell oil freely for 60 days and calls for dilution of its highly enriched uranium stockpile.

Iran’s president repeated that the country would not back down from its right to enrich uranium. U.S. Central Command disputed Iran’s earlier claim that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz and said traffic continued to flow. An official with knowledge of the talks told the AP that the Iranian delegation had not indicated any intention to withdraw despite the heated exchanges.

The sides have 60 days to reach a detailed follow-on agreement.