An official Iranian delegation has arrived in Switzerland for peace discussions with the United States, according to Iranian state media. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance left Washington for meetings that Pakistan indicated would start on Sunday.
Despite an agreement between the US and Iran on a 60-day ceasefire during the negotiations, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz was closed. However, the US military reported that commercial vessels were still operating in the strait.
These developments might complicate efforts to advance an interim deal facilitated by Pakistan and signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, aiming to end the nearly four-month war that began on February 28.
The IRGC cited alleged Israeli “crimes” in Lebanon, claiming they breached US ceasefire commitments. They warned that vessels would face risks if they approached the Strait, which is vital for global oil and gas transportation. However, the US Central Command stated that 55 merchant ships passed through the strait on Saturday, carrying over 17 million barrels of oil for global markets.
US forces will ensure the continuation of commercial traffic, Central Command stated.
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump announced that no toll would be levied for passage through the Strait during or after the 60-day ceasefire, unless peace talks fail and the US decides to impose one.
Trump also mentioned the potential for a Hormuz toll by the US for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East” if a peace agreement is not reached.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, accused the US on X of not implementing the initial clause of its 14-point interim agreement with Iran, which includes a ceasefire “on all fronts,” including Lebanon.
He stated that as long as the agreement remains only on paper, the flow of energy from the Middle East will stay halted.
The truce in Lebanon appeared fragile as clashes continued between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR US-IRAN TALKS IN SWITZERLAND
The Iranian delegation, led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, included Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and senior officials from security, central bank, and oil sectors, as reported by Iranian media. The US negotiating team, alongside Vance, comprises envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that Iran would insist on the fulfillment of commitments in Switzerland, highlighting past failures to honor agreements by the other side.
Vance, in an interview with Fox News, expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold, stating he had no evidence of the Strait of Hormuz being closed.
The US vice president departed for Switzerland shortly after 9 pm (GMT) on Saturday. Negotiators are expected to engage in “a couple of days of talks,” Vance informed reporters before his departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue and the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” he remarked.
A halt in hostilities in Lebanon was one of the prerequisites for initiating US-Iranian talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and other matters. However, the Lebanese Civil Defence reported that 20 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Saturday, hours after a truce was enacted.
Israel claimed it was responding to attacks from Hezbollah, whereas the Iran-supported group stated it would not permit Israel “freedom of movement” in Lebanon.
Israel, excluded from the talks, stated it is not a party to the Iran-US agreement and will maintain its forces in the Lebanese areas it occupies.
The Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that the prime minister and defense minister instructed the military to cease fire in Lebanon, but they would not withdraw from captured areas.
A poll exclusively shared with Reuters and conducted by the Israeli Hebrew University revealed that approximately 92% of Israelis believe Iran benefited more from the joint Israeli-US military campaign than Israel, with only about 8% thinking Israel emerged victorious. Almost 90% of Israelis said the war’s objectives were not achieved, and over 70% do not believe Netanyahu’s claims of significant achievements.
Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Saturday, both being Hezbollah strongholds.
An Israeli military official stated that Hezbollah fired over 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting Israel to target what it described as Hezbollah positions in response.
A military statement affirmed Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire but noted it would continue to act against any threats to Israel or its forces.
Lebanon’s health ministry reports that 4,057 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, including medics, women, and children, without specifying how many of the deceased were combatants.
Israeli authorities report at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have died in clashes with Hezbollah.
