After a period of back-and-forth over strikes on Lebanon, Iran's renewed claim to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, and doubts over the implementation of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, the long-awaited talks between Iranian and American delegations are set to begin today in Switzerland, with the aim of reaching final understandings. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack on his Democratic opponents, boasting about what he called the success of his policy in militarily defeating Iran.
Pakistan announced that technical talks between Tehran and Washington on the interim agreement will begin on Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, with Qatari mediators also participating.
In Washington, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that senior American negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are already in Switzerland, working through the technical details of negotiations related to Iran's nuclear programme. Vance told Fox News that he expects to travel to Switzerland within the next two days, though he acknowledged the matter always requires careful coordination.
He added: "Things are going well." Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation travelled to Switzerland yesterday to discuss implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, according to Tehran.
The spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the delegation would follow up and demand that the other party fulfil its obligations under the understanding. According to Iranian television, the delegation includes parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Baqeri, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, National Oil Company Director Hamid Bord, Foreign Ministry legal adviser Kazem Gharibabadi, and Baqai, along with other officials.
Switzerland announced that it continues to provide a confidential and trusted environment at Bürgenstock to facilitate discussions on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.
The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a communiqué that no further details about participants or the content of the talks would be disclosed, out of respect for confidentiality.
The statement said: "Diplomats present from various countries at the hotel are currently working to continue the dialogue… For reasons of confidentiality, no additional information can be disclosed regarding the individuals present or the content of the discussions."
In this context, US President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on his political opponents in the Democratic Party and on previous US administrations, describing his policy towards Iran as successful and asserting that Iran has been completely defeated militarily.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump sharply criticised Democratic Party members and accused them of failing to grasp the scale of what he described as the success against Tehran.
He said: "Former President Barack Obama kept giving them billions of dollars in cash and never used our military, which was depleted at the time, to do what should have been done to rein in Iran, the world's number one sponsor of terrorism."
He continued: "They had absolutely no respect for him… They thought he was, like Sleepy Joe Biden, a weak and ineffective leader, and they were 100% right about that… Iran got away with murder for 47 years, until I came along… Then everything changed… America is back!"
In a subsequent post, Trump said he finds it funny how the "stupid Democrats" like to say that Iran is in a stronger position today than it was 3 months ago, despite the fact that it has been militarily defeated and left without a navy or air force.
He added: "That's why I call them the stupid Democrats."
The US military contradicted Iran's statements that it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the vital waterway remains open and that its forces are monitoring the situation to ensure it stays that way.
US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said: "Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz… Navigation is continuing, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure that continues." The US military announced that it is maintaining a state of vigilance.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a release: "US forces continue their presence and vigilance to ensure compliance with all terms of the agreement with Iran and their implementation, and to ensure it remains fully in effect. Safe passage through the international waterway was available and unimpeded on Saturday."
The CENTCOM statement continued: "Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact on Saturday, with 55 commercial vessels transiting, carrying large quantities of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets… The Joint Maritime Information Centre issued a statement this week confirming safe passage for all vessels along a defined route, free of any arbitrary conditions or obstacles." CENTCOM concluded its statement: "US forces remain present and vigilant to ensure compliance with, and full entry into force of, all aspects of the agreement with Iran."