US-Iran talks to begin in Switzerland as Tehran says it closed Strait of Hormuz
BBC News 2026-06-21 04:34:00
Context: Direct talks between the US and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland, despite Iran's military claiming it has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The talks, which will also be attended by Pakistani officials, aim to make progress on the nuclear issue and the Lebanon ceasefire. The negotiations come after a recent escalation in violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with at least 47 people killed in Lebanese air strikes on Saturday.
Key Facts
- The US and Iran are set to begin direct talks in Switzerland, with US Vice-President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation, including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in attendance.
- Iran's military claimed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, but the US military disputed this claim, saying "traffic continues to flow" and that 55 merchant ships transited the strait on Saturday.
- The talks will also be attended by Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who have acted as mediators throughout the war and hosted a previous round of negotiations between the US and Iran.
- The US and Iranian presidents signed an initial agreement earlier this week, aiming to end the war, including in Lebanon, with immediate effect, and committing to further talks to reach a final deal over the next 60 days.
- The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy trade, was effectively blocked by Iran after the US and Israel attacked the country on 28 February, sending shockwaves through global energy markets, with around 20 million barrels of oil and oil products passing through the strait per day in 2025, worth nearly $600bn (£447bn) per year.