War in the Middle East: negotiations between Iran and the United States in Switzerland, new strikes in Lebanon

Discussions between the United States and Iran to find lasting peace in the Middle East are due to begin this Sunday, June 21, in a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps, four days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding, already battered, to end hostilities.

• Des discussions à Lucerne

These talks, focused on the Iranian nuclear program, are scheduled for a renewable period of 60 days. They are planned in a luxury hotel on Bürgenstock, a mountain overlooking Lake Lucerne. Discussions “Preparations” began on Saturday between diplomats, according to Berne and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the holding of discussions « techniques » Sunday between Iranians and Americans.

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US Vice President JD Vance landed early Sunday morning at the Emmen air base, near Lucerne in central Switzerland, according to his spokesperson. The Iranian delegation arrived on Saturday evening, according to the Swiss government. According to Iranian state television, it includes chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also Speaker of Parliament, head of diplomacy Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose mediation was decisive in concluding the June 17 agreement, also announced on Saturday evening that he was on his way to Switzerland.

The discussions should last “a few days”JD Vance told the press before leaving the United States on Saturday evening, specifying that he could not stay in Switzerland “Just a day or two”. “I hope that we will make progress on the nuclear issue and on the issue of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Those are the two main points that I think we’re going to focus on.”at-il déclaré.

• New strikes in Lebanon

Even before they began, the pitfalls piled up, with the fighting continuing in Lebanon despite a clause in the agreement providing for an end to hostilities on all fronts without exception. Israeli strikes still left several dozen dead on Saturday in eastern and southern Lebanon, before an interruption noted by an Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondent from the end of the day, when the Israeli army received the order to cease clashes with Hezbollah in the south while continuing to operate “On the defensive”.

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The Israeli army announced for its part that one of its soldiers had been killed on Saturday in southern Lebanon.

The spokesperson for Iranian diplomacy, Esmaïl Baghaï, warned the United States on Saturday that the protocol would be “En danger” if its clauses were not applied quickly, an allusion to the situation in Lebanon, where clashes continue between Israel and the pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah.

• The Strait of Hormuz already closed in retaliation

After the new clashes in Lebanon, the central command of the Iranian army announced that “The Strait of Hormuz would be closed to maritime traffic”a “First measure in response to enemy violation of commitmentsâ€. Il a menace « d’autres mesures » if necessary “to force the enemy to respect his obligations”.

The reopening of the strait was one of the key points of the American-Iranian memorandum of understanding. At the start of the war, Iran blocked this strategic sea route through which some 20% of the world’s hydrocarbons previously transited, causing a surge in oil prices.

After Iran announced its new closure, the US Middle East Command (Centcom) indicated that its forces remained “watching”. According to him, 55 merchant ships crossed the strait safely on Saturday.

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Tehran also mentioned the possible establishment of “Frais” maritime service for ships wishing to transit there. And American President Donald Trump also threatened to impose a toll in the Strait if discussions with Iran failed.