The Iranian delegation abruptly halted negotiations while meeting with U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, at the Bürgenstock Resort near Lake Lucerne. This decision came in response to threatening remarks made by President Donald Trump, suggesting he could escalate attacks on Iran.
According to the Wall Street Journal, on June 21, the U.S. and Iranian delegations were engaged in talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. Initially, the U.S. aimed to continue discussions on Iran's nuclear program, but recent exchanges of attacks between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah shifted the focus to the situation in Lebanon.
From the outset of the talks, Iran displayed hostility toward the U.S. The mediating countries, including Pakistan, organized a media event before the discussions began. However, the Iranian authorities refused to take photos with the U.S. delegation, as reported by the Financial Times. During the event, Vice President Vance shook hands with General Asim Munir, the chief of Pakistan's army, while Special Envoy Steve Witkoff embraced Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, creating a cordial atmosphere. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, was also present. In contrast, the Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, briefly entered the meeting room to shake hands with the Pakistani representatives before leaving. They returned only after the media had departed. The Financial Times noted that this behavior reflects the deep-seated mistrust between the two sides, which have been adversaries for nearly half a century.
Additionally, Iran has emphasized that a ceasefire in Lebanon is a prerequisite for any peace agreement. According to the New York Times, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that a final agreement is impossible unless both Israel and Hezbollah halt hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon. However, Israel has refused to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon and has justified its military presence. On June 21, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted, "No matter how much progress the U.S. and Iran make diplomatically, I will not allow Iran to become a nuclear power," insisting that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon to counter Hezbollah.
Tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalated further when President Trump issued a warning to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. In an interview with Fox News, Trump advised, "President Pezeshkian should be careful with uranium enrichment; otherwise, we could take over that country."
Following Trump's remarks, the Iranian delegation announced its withdrawal from the negotiations. Although the two sides had engaged in discussions for 80 minutes, Iranian state media reported that the Iranian representatives left the building where the talks were held. The report stated, "The meeting entered a difficult phase following the announcement of President Trump's insulting message."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.