Key facts
- US and Iranian negotiators are meeting in Switzerland to finalize details of an interim agreement.
- Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, a claim disputed by the US.
- The interim deal aims to stop fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
- US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf are attending the talks.
- Pakistani and Qatari mediators are also present in Switzerland.
- The agreement includes provisions for unfreezing billions of dollars of Iran's assets.
US and Iranian negotiators convened in Switzerland on Sunday to finalize key details of an interim agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The delegation includes US Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff, meeting with Iranian Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir are also present, alongside Qatari mediators.
Central to the discussions is the implementation of a deal that seeks to halt fighting on all fronts, including the conflict in Lebanon, and involves unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets. The interim agreement provides a 60-day window for negotiators to reach a comprehensive nuclear accord.
On the eve of the talks, Iran's joint military command announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing a US breach of commitments. However, the US Central Command disputed this, stating that maritime traffic, including oil shipments, continues to flow through the vital waterway. US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to impose tolls if a final deal is not reached within 60 days, while the interim agreement mandates toll-free travel for the same period.
A temporary lull in Israeli strikes in Lebanon has been observed, following heavy fighting that resulted in over 50 deaths in Lebanon and five Israeli soldiers killed. Israel stated it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, but residents reported a cessation of strikes by Sunday morning.