U.S. Vice President JD Vance, right, meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict, at the Bürgenstock Resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, in Switzerland, Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Nathan Howard/Pool Reuters/AP
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Nathan Howard/Pool Reuters/AP
Amidst escalating tensions, President Trump has hinted at increased military actions against Iran, while Vice President JD Vance has been engaging in diplomatic talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump stated in a social media post on Sunday.
In a move that further complicates the situation, Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli military actions in Lebanon that target the Hezbollah group. This has led to accusations from Iran that the U.S. is not upholding its part of a recent tentative agreement aimed at ceasing hostilities in the region.
Vice President Vance has been actively participating in negotiations in Switzerland, meeting with various officials including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who are mediating the discussions.
The discussions in Switzerland, which include input from representatives from Qatar and Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, are centered around a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran. However, the agreement is already experiencing significant challenges. While Iran has claimed a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Central Command has reported that shipping remains unaffected.
Another crucial topic being discussed is Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s stance, stating, “What is certain is that we will never back down from the right to enrich uranium, and the other side is also forced to accept it.” Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes.
Despite a declared ceasefire, hostilities continued over the weekend between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, adding pressure to the ongoing negotiations. Nevertheless, Vance expressed optimism, noting significant progress in the talks and commenting, “We’ve already made great progress over just the last few hours, and I expect that we’ll make additional progress in the hours to come.”
Vance conveyed a sense of cautious optimism, acknowledging the complexities involved while stating, “These things are always a little bit messy.” He emphasized the U.S.’s efforts to de-escalate the conflict, claiming, “We’ve done more to stop the conflict in Lebanon than any government anywhere in the world.”
Recent Israeli military actions resulted in at least 16 casualties in Lebanon. Israel justified its strikes as a response to Hezbollah’s projectile attacks, while Hezbollah claimed its actions were defensive against Israeli advances.
In a positive turn, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported no new attacks for the first time since the conflict reignited in March, according to an NPR interview with the interim head of the peacekeeping force.
The Memorandum of Understanding, although not signed by Israel or Lebanon, calls for the respect of Lebanese sovereignty and cessation of military activities in Lebanon—provisions that Iran insists the U.S. must enforce.
NPR’s Jane Arraf contributed to this report.
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