US-Iran discussions to resume after initial Iranian exit

The opening round of direct discussions between the US and Iran wrapped up in Switzerland on Monday according to mediators, following a strained beginning where Tehran announced renewed closure of the strait of Hormuz and Donald Trump renewed warnings of possible renewed strikes on Iran.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan noted that Washington and Tehran settled on a path forward for a final agreement inside 60 days, with technical sessions set to run through the remainder of the week at the Swiss mountain site of Buergenstock.

The sides established steps to conclude Israel's conflict in Lebanon and set up a communications channel to support safe commercial shipping in the Hormuz strait, per the joint statement noting conclusion of the first session under the US-Iran pact.

Shortly before formal talks opened on Sunday, Fox News indicated Trump had warned Iranian officials about the strait of Hormuz: "You close it and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your fucking country." Trump also repeated a prior warning that the US might seize the strait and impose its own fee, the report added.

In other developments:

The opening proved tense, as Iranian negotiators exited in objection to Trump's statements. Iranian state outlets described the process entering a difficult stage and pausing after release of an insulting message from the US president. Yet senior talks resumed and finished early Monday, with Pakistan and Qatar confirming technical exchanges would extend through the week.
Following release of Trump's comments, the Iranian group declined to reenter the meeting room, though exchanges continued through Pakistani and Qatari mediators, per Iran's Tasnim news agency.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media that his nation gained exemptions for oil and petrochemical shipments, release of select frozen holdings, and start of a reconstruction and growth program for Iran. The US offered no immediate response to those assertions.
Iran stated over the weekend it had halted sea traffic through the Hormuz strait once more amid ongoing clashes in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel, adding that Sunday's meetings would skip core topics like Iran's nuclear efforts.
In Switzerland, US vice-president JD Vance minimized effects of the Lebanon violence, noting advances toward halting fighting there. "These things are always a little bit messy," Vance remarked while heading the American group.
Back in the US, Trump warned of renewed strikes on Iran unless it restrained its partners. "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble," Trump posted on social media, apparently pointing to Hezbollah. "If they don't, we'll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!"
Despite the warnings, Vance informed reporters the US president had directed the team to start fresh and reshape ties with Iran's people.
Five ships transited the strait on Sunday, down sharply from 26 the prior day, per analytics firm Kpler. The figures may omit vessels disabling transponders in the Gulf.
Sunday marked one of the calmer periods in Lebanon recently, with no major incidents reported by evening after two days of intense Israeli strikes that killed numerous civilians and Hezbollah responses against Israeli sites. Reuters correspondents in southern Lebanon observed heavy return traffic since the framework deal, with some residents waving Hezbollah flags.

Key events

6m agoIran's lead negotiation group departs Switzerland while technical talks on MoU rollout start
28m agoSwiss foreign ministry notes constructive advances in US-Iran discussions
1h agoMajor headway achieved to conclude Israel's Lebanon conflict, Iranian foreign minister states
1h agoUS-Iran talks to proceed despite Iranian exit

Iran's senior team exits Switzerland as technical MoU talks launch

Reports from Iranian outlets indicate the delegation headed by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has departed Switzerland after extended sessions.

The technical group under deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi stays behind to advance detailed negotiations with the US on carrying out the memorandum of understanding.

Officials from Qatar and Pakistan are also slated to join.

Swiss foreign ministry hails constructive steps in US-Iran talks

The Swiss foreign ministry stated: "The Swiss facilitator welcomes the constructive progress made during the intensive diplomatic talks that continued throughout the night of 21-22 June at the Burgenstock between the mediators, Iran and the United States".

The ministry noted the agreed roadmap sets conditions for prompt restart of fresh technical exchanges.

Upcoming sessions will address Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, a monitoring and dispute resolution group for MoU enforcement, and additional topics, according to the joint statement from Qatar and Pakistan.

Lebanon entered the conflict after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel on 2 March to retaliate for the US-Israeli killing of Iran's former supreme leader in Tehran in late February.

Over a million people have been displaced by Israel's renewed campaign in Lebanon, triggering refugee and humanitarian strains.

Some Lebanese residents have begun cautious returns to southern homes since the US-Iran framework announcement, though many remain wary of renewed large-scale fighting.

Others lack homes to reclaim, as Israel has destroyed entire villages within the occupied "yellow line" zone along the border, as noted by colleague William Christou.

At least 4,106 people, many women and children, have died and 12,153 injured from Israeli strikes since 2 March, per Lebanon's health ministry. Hezbollah has killed dozens of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon plus at least three Israeli civilians.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected any Israeli security zone in Lebanon and vowed response to violations. In a broadcast, he stated Israeli troops on Lebanese soil is impossible, with no security zones for Israel, and noted cooperation with the national army for sovereignty.

Israel's defence minister Israel Katz indicated no plan to withdraw from Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon. In an X statement, he said Israel intends to hold the site as part of the security zone essential for Galilee and IDF protection.

As prime minister Netanyahu and I have stated, Israel will not leave the security zone in Lebanon.

The Israeli military, already holding ground to the Litani River, seized the castle at end of May during deeper advances into Lebanon.

It carries symbolic weight from prior Israeli use as a base during the 1982-2000 occupation of southern Lebanon.

Haaretz reports ambassador-level talks this week between Israel and Lebanon will create pilot zones under sole Lebanese military control, requiring IDF exit from some occupied spots. Withdrawal from Beaufort castle remains unclear under the plan.

The Lebanese forces in those pilot zones would face close US oversight, with the army also assuming some areas not now held by Israel.

Major progress noted to conclude Israel's Lebanon war, Iranian foreign minister states

In an X post Monday morning after the first Swiss session, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi noted major progress toward ending Israel's Lebanon conflict.

He wrote: "Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction and development plan launched for Iran. 1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell."

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retain troops in the southern Lebanon security zone as long as needed to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah.

As prime minister of Israel, I insist on this unequivocally, and nothing will change it, amid tensions with US president Donald Trump over disproportionate force and civilian tolls in Hezbollah strikes. Trump seeks halt to Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon to avoid derailing Iran talks.

Last week Israel declared the security zone covering hundreds of square miles in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials demand full Israeli withdrawal, which Iran said the memorandum requires.

US-Iran talks set to continue despite Iranian walkout

The first round of face-to-face talks between the US and Iran ended in Switzerland on Monday, mediators said, after a tense opening marked by Tehran saying it had again closed the strait of Hormuz and Donald Trump repeating his threats to resume attacks on Iran.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan said Washington and Tehran agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal within 60 days and that technical talks would continue for the rest of the week in the Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock.

The parties agreed to a mechanism to end Israel's war in Lebanon and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passages for commercial ships through the Hormuz strait, according to the joint statement which said that the first session of talks under the US-Iran agreement had concluded.

Just before the high-stakes talks officially began on Sunday, Fox News reported that Trump said he had told Iranian officials regarding the strait of Hormuz: "You close it and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your fucking country." Trump also reiterated an earlier threat that the US would take over the strait and possibly charge a toll of its own, it said.

In other developments:

The talks had a tense start, with Iranian negotiators walking out in protest against Trump's threats. Iranian state media said the talks had entered a difficult phase and recessed after the publication of an insulting message by the US president. But high-level negotiations continued before concluding in the early hours of Monday, with Pakistan and Qatar saying technical talks between the two sides would continue for the rest of the week.
After Trump's threats became public, the Iranian delegation refused to return to the room where talks were held, though messages were still being traded via Pakistani and Qatari mediators, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media his country had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets