US-Iran talks in Switzerland as Vance seeks progress and Trump warns over Hezbollah and Hormuz

US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday there was a chance to reset ties with Iran. The comment came during talks in Switzerland on a temporary deal signed last week. President Donald Trump also issued fresh threats about Iran’s actions in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. The mix of outreach and warnings raised uncertainty around the negotiations.

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Vance and US negotiators met Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The meeting took place at a Swiss resort near Lake Lucerne. Pakistani and Qatari mediators joined the direct session, which Iranian state media said lasted about 80 minutes. Separate private meetings were also held with Pakistani and Qatari officials.

US Iran talks and Trump threats

Trump posted multiple warnings on Sunday, including this message about Lebanon: "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,\" Trump wrote. Trump added: \"If they dont, well hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!\" Trump also threatened renewed strikes over support for Hezbollah, or moves affecting the Strait of Hormuz.

Qalibaf responded online with a warning of Iran’s own. \"They would do better to be careful about their statements,\" Qalibaf posted on X. \"Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner. They may keep talking, it is we who act.\" Iranian state media said the talks then entered a difficult stage.

Iranian state media reported the talks recessed after what it called an insulting US message. It said the Iranian delegation then met Qatari mediators and left the site. Despite the online exchanges, an official familiar with the talks told AP Iran stayed engaged. The official requested anonymity due to the talks’ sensitivity.

US Iran talks focus on nuclear program and Strait of Hormuz

The US aimed to keep Iran in talks over its nuclear programme. US officials said they worried it could be used for military goals, which Iran denied. Vance also pushed Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. About a fifth of world traded oil moves through the waterway. The US said large volumes passed in recent days.

The interim agreement was signed last week, and both sides had 60 days to settle technical details. The deal immediately allowed Iran to sell oil freely. It also opened a path for Tehran to access billions of dollars in frozen assets. The agreement called for Iran to dilute highly enriched uranium stockpiles.

Iran’s President Pezeshkian insisted Iran would keep the right to enrich uranium. \"What is certain is that we will never back down from the right to enrich uranium, and the other side is also forced to accept it,\" Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian state media. Trump also issued a separate warning in a Fox News phone interview.

US Iran talks affected by Lebanon fighting and mediation

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the teams planned to focus on the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Baghaei also said: \"The implementation of any document is more important than its signing,\" according to state media. Only days after the deal, fighting in Lebanon escalated and tested the truce effort.

Iran’s military later announced it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command disputed that claim and said it monitored the route to keep traffic moving. Vance said millions of barrels of oil had moved through the strait in recent days. A renewed ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered on Saturday, appeared to be holding.

Vance was joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for Sunday’s meetings. Witkoff and Kushner arrived earlier to discuss technical nuclear details. Vance planned to stay one or two days, leaving detailed work to Witkoff and Kushner. The vice president’s role drew scrutiny amid talk of a 2028 run.

US Iran talks and controversy over interim agreement

The deal drew criticism from Republican hard-liners. Some compared it to the Obama-era nuclear agreement, which Trump and allies said failed to end Iran’s nuclear efforts. The agreement said commercial vessels could pass through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without charge. It did not rule out future fees by Iran.

Trump threatened on Saturday to impose US tolls if no deal was reached in 60 days. Trump said in a social media post the money would be for services as the Guardian Angel to Middle East countries. The administration tried to calm markets after the Iran war affected fuel prices. After the deal, oil futures fell nearly 8 per cent.

Israel and Hezbollah were not parties to the US-Iran deal, adding uncertainty. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon until threats ended. Hezbollah refused to stop attacks unless Israel committed to leaving Lebanon. The talks near Lake Lucerne continued under mediation, as both sides weighed the next steps.

With inputs from PTI