Weekend Geopolitical Headlines: US-Iran talks began in Switzerland on Sunday, although the Iranian delegation left the negotiation site in protest of Trump's renewed threats to resume bombing Iran

US and Iran talks opened in Switzerland on Sunday after US VP Vance arrived in Switzerland and the Iranian delegation led by chief negotiator Ghalibaf, which included Foreign Minister Araghchi, arrived on Saturday, while Pakistan’s Premier Sharif and military chief Munir travelled to Switzerland to join the US-Iran talks.

Iranian delegation left the negotiation site in protest against statements by US President Trump, while Fars also reported that Iran reportedly halted talks with the US after Trump threatened strikes over Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon. Iran said Trump’s threat is a blatant violation of the MoU and halted talks in Switzerland, while it is reviewing a response to Trump’s threats.

US President Trump threatened to resume bombing and take over the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is not reached, while Trump said the US may take tolls if it has to and that he has a 60-day option, in which he can do whatever after it. Trump stated he spoke with Iranian officials and used expletive language in the call with Iranian officials on Hormuz, as well as threatened that they won’t have a country if Hormuz is closed, according to Fox. 

US President Trump posted that Iran must immediately stop their proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble, or else the US would hit Iran very hard again, “just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump separately commented that there will be no tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, unless they are imposed by the US.

Iran’s top negotiator Ghalibaf said that they don’t take the threats seriously at all and warned that Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond in a different way.

Iranian negotiating team member said executive procedures about the release of Iranian frozen funds have taken place with the Qatari delegation and that a draft has been finalised regarding waivers of Iranian oil sanctions, which will be issued soon, although negotiations about other subjects will not take place if the war does not end in Lebanon.

Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz for shipping transit again on Saturday due to Israel’s violation of a ceasefire, while Iranian press cited sources stating that the Iranian negotiating team was said to reiterate that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen as long as the ceasefire in Lebanon is not respected and waivers for the sale of Iranian oil are not issued.

Iran resumed oil loading from Kharg Island after about a six-week halt, following the lifting of the US Navy blockade of its ports.

Three India-linked supertankers re-emerged in the Gulf of Oman, which suggests an increase in traffic through the waterway.

UKMTO reported an incident in which a cargo vessel was approached by a craft with six armed persons onboard 92 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Mukalla in the Gulf of Aden.

Israeli army chief said the Lebanon ceasefire is fragile and forces remain ready for combat.

Israeli military convoy reportedly entered southern Syria’s Quneitra region, near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.