Switzerland confirms Iran-US talks are continuing

The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced that talks on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States are continuing in Bürgenstock.

This ministry said on June 20 that Switzerland continues to offer a “confidential and reliable space” to facilitate these talks and that due to the confidential nature of the negotiations, no further information will be published.

In the brief statement issued, Switzerland refused to provide details regarding the participants or the content of the talks.

Earlier on June 20, Axios reported that US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had departed for Switzerland.

It was also previously reported that the escalation of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in recent days had caused the cancellation of a planned trip to Switzerland by US Vice President JD Vance, raising doubts about the future of the talks.

The website Axios reported on June 20 that Witkoff is traveling to Switzerland to join Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is currently in the country, while Araqchi is also expected to arrive in Switzerland on June 20. These developments could indicate that both sides are ready to begin technical talks aimed at reaching a long-term agreement.

A senior US official told news agencies that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was reached the day before by the US and Qatar, with the help of Iran.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, is a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing, but not its political branch.

Meanwhile, Israeli attacks on Lebanon resumed on June 20, hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect. The attacks killed at least ten people. Israel claims that these attacks were in response to rockets fired by Hezbollah.

The Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, responded to these reports by publishing as its main headline an unsigned note addressed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi: "Given the ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, the meeting with Witkoff is not justified, you must close the Strait of Hormuz."

Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, aimed at ending the war that began on February 28, oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have increased significantly.

Iran closed this key waterway immediately after the US and Israel launched attacks on the Islamic Republic on February 28.

The initial agreement between the parties provides for a 60-day period for the US and Iran to reach a peace agreement./ REL