Trump threatens Iran as Switzerland talks open over Lebanon and Hormuz

US President Donald Trump kept up his threats against Iran on Sunday even as talks began in Switzerland on the next steps in the interim agreement signed last week to end the war. The US delegation is led by Vice President J D Vance and includes Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, while Iran is represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan and Qatar are mediating the talks.

The talks opened amid tensions over Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran said on the eve of the talks that it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz over Israel's ongoing military campaign in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. The interim deal is meant to stop fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, and Iran has said that issue must be addressed first.

The US has said shipping traffic through the key waterway is continuing. Trump has also threatened to impose American tolls in the strait if a final deal with Iran is not reached within 60 days. Other issues under discussion include the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets and Iran's nuclear programme.