US and Iran publicly trade threats as talks take place in Switzerland
While closed-door US-Iran peace talks proceeded in Switzerland, both sides issued public threats, jeopardizing the process. Trump threatened renewed strikes if Hezbollah did not cease activities, while Iran's top negotiator warned of a military response.
As negotiations aimed at finalizing a peace deal took place behind closed doors between the US and Iran in Switzerland, each side issued public threats toward the other, with key sticking points risking derailing efforts to end the war. The talks seek to end a conflict that has caused severe instability across the Middle East and rattled the global economy. Just as the talks began, US President Donald Trump threatened to renew strikes on Iran if it did not stop Hezbollah from "causing trouble" in Lebanon. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, "If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder."
Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded, warning the United States that "our armed forces are ready to respond." He added, "Don't they think that if their threats had any effect, they would not have reached today's state of desperation? We do not take American threats into account." Ghalibaf also stated that regardless of what is said, they are the ones who act.
The negotiations opened against a backdrop of recent clashes between the Israeli army and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. A memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday stipulates a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon "as long as necessary" and vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected any Israeli security zone, saying Israeli troops "remaining on Lebanese land is impossible."
Iran has again closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz in response to recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote that entering the negotiation phase for a final agreement is impossible without an end to the war in Lebanon. US Vice President, who was in Switzerland alongside negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, hailed "a historic meeting" and expressed hopes of turning a "new leaf" with Iran. He asked, "Can we turn over a new leaf? Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently?"
The US seeks to engage Iran in talks over its nuclear program amid concerns of military use, which Iran denies. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium but repeated denial of seeking nuclear weapons.
By Sunday evening, no reports of Israeli strikes or continued fighting emerged, with some residents of southern Lebanon cautiously returning home.
