US Vice President JD Vance met top Iranian officials in Obburgen, Switzerland, on Sunday to advance last week’s interim deal aimed at ending the war in Iran. Talks included Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar present.
The US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan collapsed after 21 hours, leaving a fragile two-week cease-fire in jeopardy. President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to cut off Iran’s economic leverage, while US officials blamed Tehran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear programme.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issued a stern warning against American forces, declaring that Iranian troops are prepared to retaliate. His remarks coincided with the arrival of 2,500 US Marines in the region and the entry of Iran-backed Houthi rebels into the ongoing conflict.