Direct negotiations between the United States and Iran are commencing in Switzerland, even as the Iranian military asserts that it has shuttered the Strait of Hormuz due to Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon. The US military has challenged this assertion, maintaining that maritime transit remains unaffected.
Tehran stated that the blockade was a reaction to lethal Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which it views as a violation of a prior understanding between the US and Iran to conclude hostilities. US Vice-President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Saturday to lead the American delegation. The Iranian team, featuring parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is also present for the talks, which are scheduled to begin on Sunday. Vance expressed optimism regarding progress on both the nuclear dossier and the ceasefire in Lebanon.
The diplomatic effort is complicated by ongoing skirmishes between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Despite a ceasefire agreement announced on Friday, casualties continue to rise, with Lebanon’s health ministry reporting 47 deaths on Saturday from Israeli strikes. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed hitting numerous Hezbollah-linked targets while reporting the loss of four of its own personnel.
While Iran’s leadership claims the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is necessary due to the alleged breach of a 14-point memorandum regarding the termination of military operations, US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins stated that 55 merchant ships successfully transited the waterway on Saturday. Officials emphasized that the flow of energy supplies, which accounted for approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day in 2025, continues under US monitoring.
