Trump threats shake up U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland; negotiators expect to work through night
U.S. President Donald Trump continued to threaten Iran on Sunday (June 21, 2026) even as talks began in Switzerland between his vice president and Iranian
U.S. President Donald Trump continued to threaten Iran on Sunday (June 21, 2026) even as talks began in Switzerland between his vice president and Iranian officials on next steps in the interim agreement signed last week to end the war. The U.S. team is led by Vice President J.D. Vance and includes Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The Iranian negotiators are led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan and Qatar are mediators. On the eve of talks, Tehran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz again over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. The interim deal is meant to stop fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon. Iran has said talks must first address that issue. The U.S. says shipping traffic on the crucial waterway continues, and Trump has threatened to impose American tolls in the strait if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days.
Other issues include unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets and addressing the heart of tensions: Iran’s nuclear program. Negotiators expect to work through the night Negotiators hoping to reach a deal to end the war in Iran are anticipating working through the night, according to a senior U.S. diplomat engaged in the talks. The diplomat, who insisted on anonymity to detail private discussions, said the Iranians remained in the talks contrary to some reports, and said that much of the discussions have included clarifying what Iran meant by some of its recent statements about the Strait of Hormuz. The negotiators also discussed various “mechanisms” to ensure the strait remains open and that a ceasefire in southern Lebanon is enforced. Oil prices rise slightly Oil prices inched up a bit on Sunday (June 21, 2026) amid the lingering uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the critical passageway for the world’s oil and natural gas.
The price of U.S. crude oil rose nearly 3% to $78.70 per barrel on Sunday (June 21, 2026). The price of Brent crude, the international standard, was up a little over 1% to $81.70 per barrel. Iran says Lebanon but also oil, frozen assets discussed Members of Iran’s delegation, briefing their media, said the talks Sunday (June 21, 2026) to reach a deal to end the war in Iran had mainly focused on Lebanon. Other issues, including the release of frozen Iranian assets and Iran’s oil exports, had also been discussed, the reports said. Hamid Bovard, CEO of the Iranian Oil Co, who is part of Iran’s delegation in Switzerland, said the issue of lifting oil-related sanctions and the associated waivers was pursued during negotiations. Bovard was responding to a question from a correspondent from IRNA, Iran’s state-run news agency.
The BriefWire