Direct talks between the US and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland, even as the Iranian military claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon. This assertion has been contested by the US military, which insists that “traffic continues to flow” in the strait. Iran’s announcement followed deadly Israeli strikes that they allege violated an agreement with the US aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
Late Saturday, US Vice-President JD Vance departed Washington, heading to Switzerland for these pivotal discussions. An Iranian delegation, which includes parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has already landed. The negotiations are scheduled to commence on Sunday. Vance expressed optimism about making headway on both “the nuclear issue” and “the Lebanon ceasefire issue.”
Speaking to reporters before boarding his flight, he was questioned about the ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, alongside the recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon. Vance remarked, “Things are actually getting better there, and things are slowing down a little bit.” He noted that ensuring the safety and security of both Israel and Lebanon is a continuous priority.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that his country would be “demanding that the other side fulfil its commitments.” Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to attend the opening of the talks, with Pakistan having played a mediatory role throughout the conflict and previously hosting discussions between the US and Iran.
Earlier this week, the US and Iranian presidents inked a preliminary agreement aimed at halting hostilities, including in Lebanon, effective immediately. This agreement encompasses a commitment for further discussions to reach a conclusive deal within the next 60 days. However, the situation remains complicated by ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, with the latter backed by Iran and based in southern Beirut.
On Saturday alone, at least 47 people lost their lives in Lebanon due to a series of Israeli airstrikes, as reported by the country’s health ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they had targeted 80 Hezbollah-linked sites and claimed to have killed “dozens” of its members, while suffering the loss of four soldiers themselves. Despite the recent agreement between the US and Iran, exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted, although a ceasefire was confirmed late Friday.
Prior to the agreement, Israel had asserted it had no intention of withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, insisting that its confrontations with Hezbollah were distinct from its broader conflict with Iran. Hezbollah accused Israel of trying to “sabotage” the US-Iran deal through its attacks. The US government has criticized Israel’s ongoing military actions in Lebanon, which escalated after Hezbollah retaliated against US-Israeli strikes that had killed Iran’s supreme leader. Lebanon’s health ministry has reported a staggering 4,057 fatalities since the conflict reignited on March 2.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned Israeli airstrikes as violations of ceasefire agreements, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz, which had been reopened after the US and Iran reached a deal to end the war, has now been closed. The Iranian military justified this closure by claiming the US failed to adhere to the first clause of their 14-point memorandum of understanding, which mandates “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
Following the Iranian statement, US Central Command (Centcom) spokesperson Tim Hawkins countered that “traffic continues to flow” through the strait, emphasizing that “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.” Centcom reported that 55 merchant ships traversed the strait on Saturday, carrying over 17 million barrels of oil destined for global markets. Tracking data indicated that at least five tankers successfully passed through the Strait that day, while some vessels appeared to make U-turns in the vicinity.
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil transport, deep enough to accommodate the largest crude oil tankers, and is vital for major Middle Eastern oil and liquefied natural gas producers. In 2025 alone, roughly 20 million barrels of oil and oil products were estimated to have passed through this strait daily, amounting to nearly $600 billion in annual energy trade.
As tensions rise and the region remains on edge, the question looms: will these talks yield any meaningful peace between the involved parties?
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber