Tehran says delegation exited negotiation building after Trump remarks, while diplomats insist talks remain on track
BURGENSTOCK: Iran’s delegation left the Swiss venue hosting talks with the United States on Sunday after US President Donald Trump renewed threats against Tehran over its support for Hezbollah, casting fresh uncertainty over negotiations aimed at permanently ending the Middle East war.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the delegation departed the building after meeting with the Qatari delegation, one of the mediating parties, as Trump posted a message repeating warnings against Iran. However, a diplomat familiar with the discussions told AFP that Tehran had not abandoned the talks and remained engaged through the mediators.
The negotiations are part of a broader effort to activate a 60-day framework for resolving long-running disputes between Washington and Tehran following months of war that destabilised the region and shook global markets.
Trump warning and Lebanon clashes cloud first round
Trump had earlier warned that the United States could strike Iran if it did not immediately stop its “proxies” in Lebanon from causing trouble, a reference widely understood to mean Hezbollah. Iran responded sharply, with chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that Tehran’s armed forces were prepared to respond differently if threatened.
Iranian state media said the first round of talks lasted 80 minutes and focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding signed this week, as well as the situation in Lebanon. It said Iran’s nuclear programme was not discussed during the session.
Lebanon and nuclear dispute remain major obstacles
The talks unfolded as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary and vowed to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have said there can be no final agreement unless the war in Lebanon ends.
President Masoud Pezeshkian also reiterated on Sunday that Iran would not surrender its right to enrich uranium, although he again denied that Tehran seeks nuclear weapons.
