US, Iran continue talks in Switzerland; progress reported on Hormuz

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — A US diplomat said Sunday evening that negotiations between Washington and Tehran were continuing in Switzerland. Speaking to Fox News, the diplomat said talks were ongoing in Switzerland with serious discussions on different dimensions of a deal, adding that negotiations were expected to continue late into the night with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar present. One of the main issues under discussion was the implementation of a halt to hostilities in Lebanon and mechanisms to prevent friction, according to the diplomat. The US official added that Washington had communicated clearly to Iran that the Strait of Hormuz must remain fully open, and said good progress had been made on that file. The talks began Sunday afternoon at the Bürgenstock mountain resort in Switzerland between a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation headed by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Galibaf. The meeting was the first held under a memorandum of understanding signed last week, which calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to all hostilities, including in Lebanon. Qatari mediators were also present. During the session, Vance played down the impact of violence in Lebanon and said progress had been made toward ending the conflict, according to the same account.