As Vance meets top Iranian officials in Switzerland, Trump threatens Tehran from afar

By — Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Aamer Madhani, Associated Press By — Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Seung Min Kim, Associated Press By — Jamey Keaten, Associated Press Jamey Keaten, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/as-vance-meets-top-iranian-officials-in-switzerland-trump-threatens-tehran-from-afar Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter As Vance meets top Iranian officials in Switzerland, Trump threatens Tehran from afar World Updated on Jun 21, 2026 3:32 PM EDT — Published on Jun 21, 2026 11:28 AM EDT OBBUERGEN, Switzerland (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Sunday there was an opportunity to "turn over a new leaf" with Iran as the sides held talks aimed at building out the interim deal to end the war in Iran reached by the two sides last week. But even as Vance called on Tehran to build on the moment, President Donald Trump threatened to restart strikes on Iran for its support of Hezbollah militants in Lebanon or if it moved to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble," Trump said on social media, one of multiple provocative warnings to Iran on Sunday. "If they don't, we'll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!" Vance and U.S. negotiators met with Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at a Swiss mountainside resort near Lake Lucerne. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar were also present for the direct engagement that, according to Iranian state media, lasted about 80 minutes. The U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams also held separate private talks with Pakistani and Qatari officials. The U.S. is looking to get Iran locked into negotiations over its nuclear program amid concerns it may be used for military purposes, which Iran denies. Vance also is pushing Tehran to commit to keeping open the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which about a fifth of world traded oil passes. But Trump's comments from afar — he spent much of the weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland — appeared to threaten to derail the negotiations. "They would do better to be careful about their statements," Qalibaf posted on X. "Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner. They may keep talking, it is we who act." Iranian state media said the talks had entered a "difficult phase" and recessed after the "publication of an insulting message by the U.S. President." The Iranian delegation then met with Qatari mediators and left the negotiating site, state media said. Despite the heated social media exchanges, an official with knowledge of the talks later told the AP the Iranian delegation remained engaged in the talks and has not indicate