Iran’s delegation temporarily walked out of negotiations with the United States on Sunday after President Donald Trump threatened renewed military action against Tehran over its support for Hezbollah, deepening tensions during talks aimed at building a broader framework agreement between the longtime adversaries.
The negotiations in Switzerland were intended to launch a 60-day process to resolve a range of disputes that have strained relations between Washington and Tehran for decades. However, disagreements over key issues, coupled with concerns about renewed instability in Lebanon, quickly overshadowed the opening phase of the talks.
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that Tehran’s delegation left the negotiating venue after holding consultations with Qatari mediators.
“The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, after meeting with the Qatari delegation as one of the mediating parties, left the building where the negotiations were taking place,” IRNA reported.
The agency linked the move directly to Trump’s remarks, saying the U.S. president repeated threats against Iran while the negotiations were underway.
“At the same time that the talks began in Switzerland, Donald Trump published a message in which he repeated his threats and statements against Iran,” the report said.
Despite the dramatic development, a diplomat familiar with the discussions said Iran had not formally withdrawn from the negotiating process.
“The Iranian delegation remains engaged in the talks and has not indicated to mediators any intention to leave,” the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
The conflicting accounts highlighted the fragile nature of the discussions, which are taking place amid persistent regional tensions and mutual distrust between the two countries.
Trump escalated the rhetoric earlier Sunday by warning Iran that it must immediately rein in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group engaged in conflict with Israel in Lebanon.
The U.S. president warned that Washington would respond militarily if Tehran failed to act.
Iran responded with its own warning. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator at the talks, said Tehran would not be intimidated by U.S. threats and that the country’s armed forces stood ready to respond.
“They should be careful with their statements. Our armed forces are prepared to respond in a different way. Whatever they say, we are the ones who will act,” Ghalibaf said.
His comments underscored the increasingly confrontational atmosphere surrounding negotiations that had initially been viewed as a significant diplomatic breakthrough.
According to Iranian state television, the first round of discussions lasted approximately 80 minutes and did not address Iran’s nuclear program, one of the most contentious issues in U.S.-Iran relations.
Instead, the talks reportedly focused on implementing a recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries and addressing the deteriorating situation in Lebanon.
The memorandum signed earlier this week outlined a roadmap for broader negotiations and included commitments aimed at reducing regional tensions.
One of its provisions specifically called on both Washington and Tehran to refrain from threatening or using force against one another.
The latest exchange of threats has therefore raised questions about whether both sides remain committed to the spirit of the agreement.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is participating in the negotiations alongside Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, sought to strike a more optimistic tone at the opening session.
“The question before us now is how much more can we achieve together?” Vance said at the Bürgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne.
“Can we turn over a new leaf? Can we permanently change relations in the Middle East? Or do we return to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but is certainly something that could happen.”
The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of renewed uncertainty in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has repeatedly threatened diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.
Although a ceasefire was announced earlier, sporadic violence in recent days prompted Iran to reimpose restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz after previously reopening the strategic waterway under the terms of its preliminary agreement with Washington.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that progress toward a final agreement would depend heavily on developments in Lebanon.
“It is impossible to enter the phase of negotiations for a final agreement unless the war in Lebanon ends,” Baghaei wrote on X.
The memorandum between Washington and Tehran included provisions intended to support efforts to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. However, recurring clashes have complicated implementation and increased pressure on negotiators.
By Sunday evening, there were no reports of fresh Israeli strikes or significant fighting in Lebanon. Some residents of southern Lebanon had begun cautiously returning to their homes following the relative calm.
Beyond Lebanon, there were no indications that Iran’s broader support for armed groups across the Middle East would become a central topic during the current round of negotiations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran would not relinquish what it considers its legitimate right to enrich uranium, even as he insisted the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
“We can also state in writing that we do not intend to make a bomb,” Pezeshkian said.
His comments highlighted one of the fundamental challenges facing the negotiations. While both sides have expressed interest in expanding diplomatic engagement, longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear activities, regional influence and security concerns continue to cast a shadow over any potential agreement.
For now, negotiators remain in Switzerland attempting to preserve momentum despite escalating rhetoric and growing uncertainty. Whether the talks can survive the latest confrontation may determine whether the tentative breakthrough achieved earlier this week evolves into a lasting agreement or becomes another failed chapter in the turbulent history of U.S.-Iran relations.
