US-Iran nuclear talks stall after President's remarks
Negotiations involving the United States, Iran and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar entered a difficult phase after President Trump issued threatening statements, prompting the Iranian delegation to pause discussions.
Vice President JD Vance, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, has been working to keep Iran engaged in talks covering the nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The talks were interrupted after President Donald Trump posted a message on social media warning Iran to halt activities by its proxies in Lebanon, stating that the United States would respond with stronger force.
"Iran must immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder," Trump wrote.
Iranian lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded on X, urging caution in public statements and indicating that Iran’s armed forces were prepared to act.
"They would do better to be careful about their statements. Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner," Qalibaf said.
State media in Tehran reported that the delegation entered a "difficult phase" and left the negotiating site after the president’s message, though an anonymous official later told the Associated Press that the Iranian team remained engaged and had not signaled an intention to withdraw.
The United States seeks to secure Iranian commitments on its nuclear program and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping, while Iran has emphasized that discussions should first address the conflict in Lebanon involving Israeli forces and Hezbollah. A ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered on Saturday, appears to be holding, and Israel announced it would lift movement restrictions near the border.
The broader agreement, signed by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, would allow Iran to sell oil and access frozen assets, and calls for dilution of highly enriched uranium stockpiles. Iranian President Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran’s right to enrich uranium, and President Trump warned the Iranian leader to watch his statements.
Negotiators have a 60-day window to finalize technical details that could affect global markets and security. Vice President Vance expressed optimism about the potential for a lasting shift in Middle-East relations as the talks continue in Switzerland.
