Negotiations between the United States and Iran resumed in Switzerland late Sunday after a tense opening that saw the Iranian delegation briefly walk out in protest over renewed military threats from US President Donald Trump.
A US diplomat said the talks were expected to continue through the night as both sides worked toward a permanent agreement to end the Middle East conflict. Discussions focused on all elements of a long-term nuclear deal, including Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and deconfliction mechanisms aimed at keeping the strategic waterway open.
The negotiations are intended to launch a 60-day process to resolve longstanding disputes between Washington and Tehran. However, disagreements over key issues and escalating tensions in Lebanon continued to complicate the talks.
Earlier on Sunday, Trump warned Iran to “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” threatening fresh military action if it failed to do so.
“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed the warning, saying Tehran would not be intimidated.
“We do not take American threats into account. They would do better to be careful with their statements; our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner. No matter what they say, we are the ones who act,” Ghalibaf said.