21.06.2026 20:00
The critical peace talks between US and Iranian delegations, which convened in Switzerland with Pakistan and Qatar mediating to end the approximately four-month-long war, hit an impasse due to threats made by US President Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian delegation left the area where talks with the US were being held because of Trump's threats.
The historic Lucerne Lake Summit, which began in Switzerland with the aim of ending the 4-month-long war between the US and Iran with a final peace, turned into a major crisis when the Iranian delegation left the table in protest after US President Donald Trump issued harsh threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Hezbollah.
The US and Iran came together in Buergenstock, Switzerland to turn the 60-day temporary ceasefire brokered by Pakistan and Qatar into a permanent peace agreement. High-level delegations led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker and Chief Negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf sat down at the table on Sunday morning to discuss the future of the ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran's frozen assets.
However, negotiations began in a tense atmosphere from the very first minute, as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, the heart of global oil trade, in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
TRUMP'S STRAIT OF HORMUZ THREAT DURING NEGOTIATIONS: YOU WON'T HAVE A COUNTRY LEFT TO RETURN TO
The move that changed the course of the summit came from US President Donald Trump. Speaking by phone to Fox News, Trump directly addressed Iranian officials, saying: "If you close the Strait of Hormuz, you won't have a country left after that. You won't even be able to return to your country."
Trump also stated on his social media account that Iran must immediately prevent its proxy forces in Lebanon (Hezbollah) from causing trouble, otherwise they would deliver a much harsher military strike than last week. Trump's statement that if peace talks fail, the US could assume a "guardian angel" role and demand a 20% share or transit fee from oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz escalated tensions to a peak.
IRAN LEFT THE TABLE
Iran's Chief Negotiator Ghalibaf responded to Trump's harsh outburst by saying, "The US should be careful with its statements; our armed forces are ready to respond." The Iranian delegation then left the building where negotiations were being held to protest Trump's threatening remarks.
JD VANCE CLAIMED PROGRESS WAS MADE
Despite the damaged diplomatic table, US Vice President JD Vance remained optimistic. Speaking to the press, Vance stated that under the president's instruction, they wanted to "open a new page" in relations with the Iranian people, saying, "We have made significant progress in the last few hours. We are determined to achieve a full regional ceasefire." Vance also added that they had seen no concrete evidence on the ground that the Strait of Hormuz was closed.
ISRAEL ANNOUNCED IT WILL MAINTAIN ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN LEBANON
On the Lebanon front, which constitutes the most critical aspect of the negotiations, the Israeli army announced that it is not a party to the ceasefire and will not withdraw from the occupied areas. Lebanese Civil Defense officials reported that 20 people lost their lives in Israeli attacks carried out on Saturday.
In Israeli public opinion, reactions are growing; according to recent polls, 92% of the Israeli public believes that Iran has benefited from this war and joint operations. Data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health revealed that the number of deaths from Israeli attacks since March 2 has reached 4,057.