US and Iran begin peace talks in Switzerland as Tehran closes Strait of Hormuz over Israeli strikes in Lebanon

The road to Bürgenstock

The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, instituting a 60-day ceasefire to end almost four months of war that began with US strikes in late February and the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Talks scheduled for Friday were postponed after Iran raised concerns, then reconfirmed for Sunday at the Swiss resort with Pakistani and Qatari mediators present. The interim deal commits both sides to a halt on all fronts, including Lebanon, and opens a window to negotiate Iran’s nuclear programme, uranium stockpiles, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

Strait of Hormuz becomes leverage

On Saturday the IRGC warned vessels not to approach the strait, citing what it called Israeli “crimes” in Lebanon and a US failure to enforce the ceasefire. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters called the closure a “first step” and promised further measures if “aggression” continued. Washington pushed back: US Central Command stated that 55 merchant ships carried more than 17 million barrels of oil through the waterway on Saturday. Donald Trump said no toll would be charged for passage during or after the 60-day ceasefire, but threatened to impose a US levy “for services rendered” if talks fail.

As long as the agreement is only on paper, the flow of Middle East energy will remain halted.

Fragile truce in Lebanon

Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people in southern Lebanon on Saturday, according to local authorities, and at least 20 according to other reports. Israel described the actions as responses to Hezbollah attacks and says it is not a party to the US‑Iran deal, refusing to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory. Hezbollah declared it would not allow Israel “freedom of movement” in Lebanon. The halt to Lebanon fighting is a precondition for the 60-day talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.

I believe that, if all goes well, we can advance both on the nuclear issue and on the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Mediation and the 60-day clock

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Switzerland to oversee the technical-level discussions, following a diplomatic effort by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi who travelled to Tehran to persuade Iran to attend. Qatar is also mediating. The 60-day window leaves little room for delay, with Trump signalling that a final deal must curb Iran’s nuclear path, while Tehran insists on sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets. American analyst Aaron David Miller noted the narrow space for the White House.

There’s not a lot of room now for him to maneuver to go back and punch back at the Iranians.