US and Iran begin talks on initial peace deal in Switzerland

The face-to-face meeting follows ongoing fighting in Lebanon and Iran's claim to have shut the Strait of Hormuz. US and Iran begin talks on initial peace deal in Switzerland Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Vice-President JD Vance greeted Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ahead of the talks on Sunday Vice-President JD Vance shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif US and Iranian officials have started direct talks in Switzerland after signing an initial agreement to end the war last week. The deal includes a commitment to reach a final agreement within 60 days, as well as an end to fighting on "all fronts" - including in Lebanon - and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But more clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon prompted Iran to announce it had shut the shipping route on Saturday - though tracking data shows vessels have continued to pass through it. Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon prompted Iran to announce it had shut the shipping route on Saturday - though tracking data shows vessels have continued to pass through it. After talks started, President Donald Trump said on social media that Iran "must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble". Bunting of Iranian flags next to missiles on display, with Azadi Tower in the background, during the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran February 11, 2026. Weapons, money and ships: How is this Iran deal different from others? US-Iran memorandum of understanding in full He threatened to "hit Iran very hard again" if they did not. Before the talks began, Vice-President JD Vance had said the US hoped for progress on "the nuclear issue" and Lebanon, while Tehran said it would be "demanding that the other side fulfil its commitments". Vice-President JD Vance had said the US hoped for progress on "the nuclear issue" and Lebanon, while Tehran said it would be "demanding that the other side fulfil its commitments". At the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, Vance said Trump had asked negotiators to "turn over a new leaf". He added that if Iran's leadership was willing to give up being a "driver of regional instability" and "nuclear weapons ambitions for the longer term", then the US "is willing to fundamentally transform our relationship with that country". Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement that negotiations for a final deal were contingent on enforcing existing commitments - including stopping all military operations. Sunday's talks were focused on implementation, he said. Vance was joined by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. For the Iranians, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Switzerland late on Saturday. The delegations were joined by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the head of the country's armed forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Pakistan has acted as a mediator throughout the war, and hosted a previous round of negotiations between the US and Iran. , and hosted a previous round of negotiations between the US and Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pictured arriving at the resort Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives for a bilateral meeting The US and Iranian presidents signed the initial agreement earlier this week, aiming to end the war with immediate effect. signed the initial agreement earlier this week , aiming to end the war with immediate effect. Under the deal, Iran was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping channel through which 20% of the world's oil and natural gas travels. Its effective closure had driven up fuel prices and disrupted the global economy. The US also agreed to lift a military blockade on ships going to and from Iranian ports. The initial deal also included a $300bn (£224bn) plan for Iran's "reconstruction", and the US terminating "all types of sanctions" on it. But the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, the main reason stated by the US for the conflict, is still to be negotiated. In Trump's first term, he withdrew the US from an Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed economic sanctions. But the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, the main reason stated by the US for the conflict, is still to be negotiated. In Trump's first term, he withdrew the US from with Iran and reimposed economic sanctions. Under this week's initial deal, fighting was also supposed to stop on all fronts, but deadly conflict continued between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, despite the deal and a ceasefire agreed by the two sides on Friday. Under this week's initial deal, fighting was also supposed to stop on all fronts, but deadly conflict continued between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, despite the deal and a ceasefire agreed by the two sides on Friday. Since the deal was signed, Israeli air strikes have killed at least 67 people, while Hezbollah attacks have killed five Israeli soldiers. Iran accused the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire, and said it would close the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday in response. Iran accused the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire, and said it would close the Strait of Hormuz However, some vessels appeared to be entering, exiting and transiting the strait on Sunday, according to location data on the maritime tracking website MarineTraffic. Three ships exited on the strait's eastern side in the morning, while three other vessels looked to be heading east in the afternoon. Tracking data may not capture all movements as some vessels may have turned their trackers off. Israel has insisted that its conflict with Hezbollah is separate from the war on Iran, which it mounted alongside the US on 28 February. Lebanon was drawn into the war shortly afterwards, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed Iran's supreme leader. Israel responded by launching a bombing campaign across Lebanon and occupying around 5% of the country's territory in the south - hoping to drive back Hezbollah fighters from its northern border - and has said it has no intention of withdrawing. Since 2 March, 4,057 people have been killed in Lebanon, the country's health ministry says. At least 34 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon, and four civilians in northern Israel, Israeli authorities say. The funeral of students and staff killed in a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran. The image shows Iranian flags draping coffins and surrounded by people. Thousands killed in US-Israeli war on Iran - but experts say true total may never be known Netanyahu speaking in front of a a blue background and Israeli flag wearing a black suit and red tie Iran deal presents political nightmare for Netanyahu Donald Trump and J D Vance standing next to each other saluting in front of an American flag In Trump's shadow, Vance becomes face of Iran deal A woman holds an Iranian flag on a street in Tehran, Iran. Tehran selling deal with US as victory – but for Iranians it was necessity The US disputed Iran's claim the waterway is shut, a move Tehran says was a response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The White House is considering changing the strict travel restrictions Iran are facing at the 2026 World Cup. JD Vance has not travelled to Switzerland as the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah and that four of its own soldiers had been killed. Mona Khalil, who had refused to leave the beach she had spent years protecting, died after several days in hospital, an environmental group said. The agreement followed concerns that continued clashes would undermine the deal to end the war between the US and Iran. It comes a day after the US and Iran signed a deal to end their conflict, including fighting in Lebanon. With fuel and gas prices having fallen in recent days, we look at how the end of hostilities might affect you - in five charts. Iran's supreme leader says he disagrees with the deal and Donald Trump signed it "out of desperation".