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Talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland were disrupted over the weekend after US President Donald Trump threatened renewed strikes against Iran, with Iranian state media reporting that the delegation walked out of the venue. The conflicting accounts from Iranian sources and a diplomat familiar with the talks have left the status of the negotiations unclear.

Coverage Comparison

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported on June 21 that the Iranian delegation had left the building in the Swiss venue where talks with the United States were being held, according to The Hindu. The walkout came after Trump published a message on X repeating his threats against Iran.

Russian state news agency TASS, citing Iran's Al Alam television channel, reported that the Iranian delegation walked out of the talks in protest against Trump's threats of renewed attacks. However, a separate TASS report cited Axios and Israel's Channel 12 correspondent Barak Ravid, who said a diplomatic source claimed the Iranian delegation had not left and that talks were still ongoing.

The Hindu also quoted a diplomat with knowledge of the talks telling AFP that the Iranians had not quit negotiations, saying: "The Iranian delegation remains engaged in the talks and has not indicated to the mediators any intention to leave."

TASS later reported, citing Iran's Tasnim news agency, that the Iranian delegation had decided not to continue the four-party talks in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock following statements by Trump. According to a Tasnim source, the sides continued exchanging messages through mediators from Qatar and Pakistan but had not reached any result.

Key Claims

  • Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the Iranian delegation left the building where negotiations were held, after meeting with the Qatari delegation.
  • Trump threatened to strike Iran if it did not "immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble," as reported by The Hindu.
  • Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded with a warning, saying: "They would do better to be careful with their statements; our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner. No matter what they say, we are the ones who act."
  • A member of the Iranian delegation, Hossein Ghorbanzadeh, told Iranian state television that Iran would not return to the negotiating table if hostilities in Lebanon continue.
  • Iran's UN envoy in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, said that Trump's threats "have created substantial obstacles during the Burgenstock discussions and have seriously jeopardized the progress," but emphasized that Iran remains prepared to continue negotiations if the US shows sincere readiness.
  • TASS reported that Iran's Press TV said the delegation had expressed protest to the US side over Trump's threats of renewed strikes.
  • The Hindu reported that the talks are meant to trigger a 60-day period to settle broader US-Iranian issues, with the negotiations aimed at permanently ending the West Asia war.
  • TASS, citing Tasnim, reported that during the talks the Iranian delegation called for speeding up the unfreezing of Iranian assets and issuing permits for oil exports, and stressed that nuclear negotiations depend on compliance with the signed agreement.

Perspectives

Iranian Government

Iran's state media and officials have consistently framed Trump's threats as the cause of the disruption. The delegation's reported walkout was described as a protest, and Iran's UN envoy said the US statements "seriously jeopardized" the talks, while insisting Iran remains open to dialogue if Washington shows genuine willingness.

US Position

Trump's public statements on X included threats of renewed strikes against Iran over its support for Hezbollah. The US administration has not been quoted directly in the reports, but the threats themselves constitute a distinct position in the standoff.

Diplomatic Sources

A diplomat with knowledge of the talks told AFP that the Iranian delegation had not quit negotiations, contradicting Iranian state media reports. Sources cited by Tasnim indicated the delegation had decided not to continue the talks, though both sides continued exchanging messages through mediators.