Daijiworld Media Network - Geneva
Geneva, Jun 21: A high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Switzerland on Saturday for peace talks with the United States, even as tensions increased after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian team, led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi along with senior security, central bank and oil officials, Iranian state media reported.
The talks follow a 60-day ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran, aimed at negotiating an interim deal to end their nearly four-month-long conflict. The agreement was brokered by Pakistan and signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
However, Iran’s decision to shut the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns over the future of the negotiations. The IRGC warned that ships approaching the strategic waterway, which carries a major share of global oil and gas supplies, could face risks.
Iran cited Israeli strikes in Lebanon and what it described as a US violation of ceasefire commitments as reasons behind the move.
US Central Command said 55 merchant vessels crossed the strait on Saturday, transporting large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets. It added that US forces would continue ensuring the movement of ships.
Trump, in a social media post, said no toll would be imposed on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz during or after the 60-day ceasefire unless the US introduced one if peace talks failed.
He said a possible toll could be charged by the United States for “services rendered” as a protector of Middle East countries if a final agreement was not reached.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, accused Washington of failing to implement the first clause of the 14-point interim agreement, which includes a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.
He said energy supplies from the region would remain disrupted as long as the agreement remained only on paper.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would push for guarantees that commitments are fulfilled during the Switzerland talks, citing previous instances where agreements were not honoured.
US Vice President JD Vance, who travelled to Switzerland for the discussions, said he was confident the ceasefire would hold and claimed he had not seen evidence confirming the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Vance said negotiations could continue for a few days and expressed hope of progress on Iran’s nuclear programme and the Lebanon ceasefire.
The talks are also linked to efforts to halt fighting in Lebanon, one of the conditions for continuing the 60-day negotiations. However, the ceasefire remained fragile as Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah exchanged attacks.
Lebanon’s Civil Defence reported that 20 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, hours after the truce came into effect.
Israel said it was responding to Hezbollah attacks, while the group said it would not allow Israel “freedom of movement” in Lebanon. Israel has maintained that it is not part of the Iran-US agreement and will keep forces in areas it occupies in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, both Hezbollah strongholds.
An Israeli military official said Hezbollah fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces overnight, following which Israel targeted what it described as Hezbollah positions.
Israel said it remained committed to the ceasefire but would continue responding to threats against its forces.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 4,057 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, including women, children and medical workers, though it did not specify the number of combatant deaths.
Israeli authorities said at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed during fighting with Hezbollah.