Geneva, June 21: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has emerged as the primary issue in the latest round of talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, according to a diplomat attending the negotiations.
Media reports indicated that negotiators from both sides added an emergency session to discuss the situation involving Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group. The matter is scheduled to be the first agenda item when the two delegations begin formal discussions.
The negotiations are also taking place amid differing positions over developments in the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, Iran has claimed control over the strategic waterway in response to what it described as repeated ceasefire violations by Israel and continued military operations in Lebanon. The United States has rejected Iran’s claims regarding control of the Strait.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Washington could impose tolls on shipping passing through the waterway if no agreement is reached. US Vice President JD Vance departed for Switzerland on Saturday to participate in the discussions, while the Iranian delegation had already arrived in the country.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrival of the Iranian delegation in a post on X, stating that the delegation was travelling to Burgenstock under the framework of a memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran.
Representatives from Qatar and Pakistan are also participating as mediators in the talks. Israel, Hezbollah and the Lebanese government are not parties to the negotiations.
According to reports, the inclusion of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in the agenda reflects a change in the US approach to the discussions.Ahead of the technical negotiations, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf referred to the victims of the Minab school incident, stating that their memory would guide Iran’s representatives during the talks.
In a message posted on X, Ghalibaf said that the victims and others who had lost their lives in Iran would remain a source of responsibility and accountability for Iranian officials during the negotiations. He also paid tribute to the children who died in the Minab school incident.
The discussions are being held under a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing hostilities in West Asia.