US-Iran talks in Switzerland: What is known so far?
Negotiations between the US and Iran mediated by Qatar and Pakistan commenced on Sunday in the Swiss lake resort of Burgenstock. The meeting is the first round of talks aimed at reaching a final settlement to the war in line with a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week.
The US was represented by Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, included the head of the Iranian central bank, the deputy oil minister, and the chairman of the National Iranian Oil Company.
The talks were initially scheduled for Friday but were postponed after Israeli attacks on Lebanon. According to Mehr news agency, Sunday’s negotiations were halted 80 minutes into the meeting after Trump threatened to “hit Iran very hard again.”
What does the joint statement say?
There was no joint declaration by the US and Iran, which conducted the talks through intermediaries, but the mediators – Pakistan and Qatar – said the Lake Lucerne Summit was held in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and produced “encouraging progress.”
Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2026
1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell https://t.co/q0okD2qwSO
The parties agreed on a 60-day roadmap toward a final deal, the start of further technical talks, and a communications line to prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. The mediators also announced a Lebanon deconfliction cell to help ensure adherence to the termination of military operations under the memorandum.
The sides also agreed to establish a High Level Committee to oversee the process. Chief negotiators will report regularly to the committee and lead working groups focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, implementation monitoring, dispute resolution, and “other matters.”
What does Iran say?
According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, the talks focused on ending the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as lifting sanctions on Iranian oil exports and releasing its frozen funds.
Hamid Bovard, the CEO of the Iranian state oil company, told IRIB news agency that the issue of oil exports was being “seriously pursued” at the meeting, adding that “nearly half of the country’s monthly oil exports have been shipped abroad” in recent days. A member of the negotiating team also reportedly stated that a draft proposal on temporary sanctions waivers for Iranian oil and its derivatives was completed.
What triggered the Iranian backlash?
Earlier on Sunday, Trump demanded that Iran rein in Hezbollah, warning that the US would “hit Iran very hard again” otherwise.
“Iran must immediately stop their… proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Ghalibaf hit back in a post on X: “Don’t they think to themselves that if their threats had any effect, they wouldn’t have reached the point of despair today?” He added that Washington should be “careful with their statements.”
“Whatever they say, we are the ones who will act,” the parliament speaker said.
In protest of Trump’s threats, the Iranian delegation reportedly suspended the talks for the day and was considering “an appropriate response,” according to Tasnim news agency.
What does the US say?
Vance said at a news briefing in Burgenstock that the US and Iran had already made “great progress,” describing the US position as an “outstretched hand” to the people of Iran.
He nevertheless maintained that Tehran must be “willing to give up being a driver of regional instability” and be “willing to give up nuclear weapons ambitions in the long term” for the US to be “willing to fundamentally transform our relationship with that country.”
The vice president also sought to downplay the risk of the talks being derailed by the hostilities in Lebanon, stating that progress has been achieved in recent days in ensuring the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he has “a 60-day option and I can do whatever I want after that option.” He also warned Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who previously insisted that Tehran must retain the ability to enrich uranium, to “watch his mouth.”
“He better shape up or we’ll take over the rest of the country,” Trump said.
What is happening in Lebanon?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told journalists on Sunday that the military will remain in southern Lebanon “for as long as it takes” and that Israel will not allow Iran to “arm itself with nuclear weapons,” regardless of “whatever the diplomatic developments may be.”
Hezbollah said it will not allow Israeli forces to remain in Lebanon, vowing to respond to any ceasefire violations. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the Israeli strikes killed 105 people and injured more than 150 others on Friday and Saturday.
What happens next?
The negotiations have been tense but are not over yet, with back-channel contacts ongoing. A senior US diplomat involved in the negotiations said the “Iranians are still here and discussions are ongoing,” and that the US delegation expects “to work through the night.”
A source told RT that the Iranian delegation is still at a hotel in Burgenstock, with technical talks expected to continue for the remainder of the week.
