Direct talks between the US and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland despite the Iranian military saying it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again over Israel’s attacks on southern Lebanon.
The US military has disputed the claim, saying “traffic continues to flow”. Iran said the Strait was closed in response to deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon that were a breach of Tehran’s agreement with the US to end the war.
Late on Saturday, US Vice-President JD Vance departed Washington for the talks in Switzerland.
An Iranian delegation including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already arrived.
The new round of negotiations is due start on Sunday. Vance said he hoped to make progress “on the nuclear issue” and on the “Lebanon ceasefire issue”.
Speaking to the press before he boarded his flight, he was asked about clashes between Israel and Hezbollah and Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon and said: “Things are actually getting better there, and things are slowing down a little bit.”