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Photo-op turns tense
High-level US–Iran talks in Switzerland began at the Burgenstock resort with a symbolic rupture after Iran’s delegation refused a planned handshake and joint photo-op with American officials, following fresh threats from US President Donald Trump.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency footage showed the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leaving the conference room ahead of the scheduled media event, and Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the delegation exited shortly after Trump issued fresh threats on social media.
The walkout came as Trump repeated warnings of military action against Iran, prompting Tehran to accuse Washington of undermining negotiations even as talks were underway in Switzerland.
The discussions continued despite the incident, with mediation from Pakistan and Qatar aimed at easing wider regional tensions and advancing negotiations tied to an interim agreement signed last week to end the war.
In parallel, Tehran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz again over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, while the U.S. said shipping traffic continues and warned of American tolls if a final deal isn’t reached in 60 days.
Tehran and Washington trade threats
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the United States against issuing threats toward the Islamic Republic, saying, "We do not take American threats into account," and adding that Iran’s armed forces were prepared to respond in kind.
Ghalibaf’s remarks came after Trump threatened fresh military action over Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon, including posting, "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble."
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency suggested that talks have "entered a difficult phase" after what it described as an "insulting" statement by Trump, while an official with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press that the Iranian delegation remains engaged and has not indicated any intention to leave.
The New Indian Express reported that Ghalibaf told the United States, "They would do better to be careful with their statements," and said, "Our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner."
As the diplomatic track faced strain, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said in a televised speech that the militant group will not accept any ceasefire deal that grants Israel "freedom of action" within Lebanon or does not result in a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
What’s at stake next
The talks in Switzerland were framed around next steps for an interim agreement meant to stop fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, while Iran insisted that negotiations must first address Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.
Newsday said the U.S. and Iran were also dealing with unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets and addressing the heart of tensions: Iran's nuclear program, as the Strait of Hormuz remained a central sticking point.
In parallel, the U.S. said shipping traffic on the crucial waterway continues, while Tehran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz again, and the U.S. threatened American tolls if a final deal with Iran isn’t reached in 60 days.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa denied that his country was looking to intervene militarily in Lebanon, saying, "We are looking for economic channels between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones," as Trump repeatedly suggested Damascus could get involved.
With the diplomatic process under pressure from military rhetoric and regional conflict, the Iranian negotiating team headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf raised objections directly with the American side over Trump’s latest threat of further military strikes, and Mehr News Agency reported that the team left the negotiating room after seeing the language of threats again.
