Web Desk: The first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran concluded in Switzerland on Sunday after about 80 minutes, with both sides breaking for internal consultations amid efforts to ease regional tensions.
Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the discussions ended to allow delegations to review the proceedings and coordinate their next steps. Iranian media later confirmed that the opening round of negotiations had wrapped up.
The talks, taking place in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, brought together senior representatives from Washington and Tehran, with leaders from Qatar and Pakistan serving as mediators in an effort to bridge longstanding differences.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over regional security issues, including the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Despite deep divisions between the two countries, the negotiations mark a rare direct diplomatic engagement aimed at addressing key areas of concern.
Before the talks began, Iranian negotiators declined to participate in a planned handshake and group photograph with the U.S. delegation, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
Citing a source familiar with the negotiations, the agency said organizers and U.S. officials had arranged a joint media appearance at the start of the multilateral meeting. However, the head of the Iranian delegation opposed the proposal.
As a result, a live television broadcast and photo session proceeded without Iranian representatives. The Iranian delegation entered the venue only after the media event had concluded.
The move underscored the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding the negotiations, even as both sides agreed to sit down for discussions.
The Switzerland talks unfolded against a backdrop of continuing tensions across the Middle East.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is also in Switzerland, said significant progress had been achieved in recent days toward maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump urged Iran to immediately rein in what he described as its “highly paid proxies” in Lebanon and prevent them from destabilizing the situation.
Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned that the ceasefire remained precarious, saying Israeli forces must remain prepared for the possibility of renewed hostilities with Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, violence continued elsewhere in the region. An Israeli airstrike near Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed two Palestinians and wounded several others, according to local reports.
Neither delegation released details of the discussions or indicated when the next negotiating session would begin.
However, the decision to continue consultations suggests that both sides are evaluating the outcome of the opening round before determining the path forward.
The talks represent one of the most closely watched diplomatic efforts in the region, with mediators seeking to sustain dialogue while broader security challenges continue to test stability across the Middle East.
Read more: US, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar begin peace talks in Switzerland
