US Vice President JD Vance waits to meet with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict, at the Bürgenstock Resort in Obbuergen, Switzerland, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)
Day 1 of Iran-US peace talks Live: US Vice President JD Vance said talks with Iran in Switzerland had achieved substantial progress and could open the door to broader regional stability. Vance said President Donald Trump had empowered the US team to pursue diplomatic solutions to a range of issues. “The question is whether we can change relations in the Middle East permanently,” he said. Vance also added that the objective of the negotiations was to use diplomacy to transform the region and create conditions for long-term cooperation. “What we’re trying to accomplish is through diplomacy to work together [and] transform the Middle East,” he said.
Hormuz still shut: Quoting unnamed “military sources”, the semi-official Fars news agency Sunday reported that the Strait of Hormuz – a key global energy route, which was shut on Saturday, “remains closed and IRGC Navy will not issue passage permits until further notice”.
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Lebanon ‘central point’ in talks: Iran said the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and Israel’s actions against Hezbollah would be the primary focus of talks with the United States in Switzerland. According to Iranian state media, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Israel’s continued operations in Lebanon would be raised prominently during the discussions. “The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon. This issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” Baghaei said in comments carried by Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA.
Earlier in the day, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for peace talks with Iran as both nations seek a durable end to their war while disagreeing over Iran’s claims that it had closed the vital Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also landed in Zurich to attend the negotations, where he will join Field Marshal Asim Munir.
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Jun 21, 2026 01:28 PM IST
Swiss Government welcomes arrival of US delegation, says it’s on its way to Burgenstock
The Swiss government on Sunday welcomed the arrival of the United States delegation led by JD Vance in Switzerland, and said that it was headed to the Burgenstock, near Lucerne, for the implementation of the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the US and Iran early this week.
Over a post on X, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We welcome the arrival of the United States delegation in Switzerland.”
It added, “The United States delegation is on its way to the Burgenstock as part of the implementation of the MoU signed between the #unitedstates and #iran.”
Jun 21, 2026 08:37 AM IST
Swiss officials welcome Iranian delegation for nuclear talks
The Iranian delegation is welcomed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
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