US and Iran resume negotiations in Switzerland amid heightened rhetoric
US and Iranian delegations met in Switzerland to discuss a preliminary nuclear agreement, while US officials reiterated the possibility of military action if talks fail.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran continued on Sunday at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed recent US statements as exaggerated and warned that Iran’s armed forces were prepared to respond if threatened.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal critic of Iran, echoed President Donald Trump’s remarks that the United States could assume control of the Strait of Hormuz and impose tolls if a deal is not reached. Graham told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that a failure of the agreement would lead to “forceful” U.S. action in the strait.
Trump, speaking to Fox News, said the United States might take over the strategically important waterway and collect fees if diplomatic efforts stalled. He also suggested that renewed bombing of Iran could be considered under certain conditions.
Energy analyst Karen Young of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy noted that the conflict has prompted many countries to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on any single supply route. She warned of short-term volatility in oil markets but said the flow of oil through the strait remained relatively stable, with 67 tankers reported in the previous 24 hours.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the portion of the 14-point agreement that permits Iran to export oil as a “modest benefit,” emphasizing that the United States expects Iran to refrain from interfering with global oil flows.
Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Switzerland for the talks, said the United States is committed to a regional ceasefire and that the Swiss session would focus on technical issues rather than delivering an immediate settlement. He highlighted the need for continued dialogue on both the nuclear issue and the situation in Lebanon.
Iran’s deputy communications chief, Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaie, warned that ongoing hostilities in Lebanon could invalidate the broader agreement, while Iran’s lead negotiator indicated that the delegation would remain in talks through the evening.
The discussions come as Israeli military operations in Lebanon have resulted in civilian casualties, and both Israel and Lebanon remain excluded from the current negotiations. International observers, including IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, met with Swiss officials to assess the latest developments.
The outcome of the Swiss talks will influence the next steps in a 60-day negotiation window aimed at finalizing the terms of Iran’s nuclear program and related security arrangements.
