US-Iran talks rescheduled for Sunday in Switzerland, Pakistan says
US-Iran negotiations postponed on Friday will now begin on Sunday in Switzerland, as Iran reimposes restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz amid Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Pakistan announced that talks between the United States and Iran, postponed on Friday, will start on Sunday in Switzerland. Iran confirmed that a delegation including the Parliament Speaker, Foreign Minister, and other senior officials is heading to the Swiss venue.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that top negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are already in Switzerland working out technical details for the anticipated negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. Vance said he expects to leave for Switzerland in the coming days.
Sunday's meeting will focus on technical-level talks aimed at reaching a final US-Iran deal. Earlier this week, both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding declaring a permanent end to "military operations on all fronts," including in Lebanon. The MoU sets a 60-day deadline for a final agreement, extendable with mutual consent.
Getting to the negotiating table after the MoU proved difficult. A round of talks originally planned for Friday was canceled after Iran failed to send its delegation, as deadly Israeli strikes persisted in Lebanon. Although Israel agreed to a renewed ceasefire with Hezbollah on Friday, its attacks continued on Saturday, killing at least 32 people, according to Lebanese authorities.
In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Saturday it was re-imposing restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli "crimes" in Lebanon and what it called US failure to uphold commitments to establish a ceasefire. The IRGC warned ships crews not to approach the strategic waterway, saying their security would be at risk.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, warned that energy flow in the Middle East would halt as long as the US-Iran agreement "remains only on paper." The US military said its forces were still operating in the general area and remained vigilant to ensure adherence to the agreement, noting that 55 commercial vessels had transited the strait on Saturday and safe passage was intact.
According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, Pakistani and Qatari mediators will join the talks on Sunday in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock. Behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity has intensified, with Qatar's Prime Minister holding meetings and Pakistani officials consulting with Egypt and Iran.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei signaled that progress may be limited until Iran sees the US fulfilling its end of the interim deal. He stressed that Iran must be firm in demanding obligations be met, given the US's past "failure to honor commitments."
Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Burgenstock, said there are indications "things are moving backwards" since the MoU was signed, citing Israel's continued bombing of southern Lebanon. "The Iranians see this as a serious breach of the MoU," he said. "Their first sanction was by not coming here. They have now utilized their best weapon by closing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran believes this tactic will help get things back on track with regard to southern Lebanon."
