Iran’s armed forces announced they are prepared for conflict on June 21, 2026, the very same day negotiations with the United States officially began in Bürgenstock, Switzerland.
The talks follow a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, designed to create a framework for eliminating hostilities, resolving nuclear disputes, and addressing the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through that chokepoint, and Iran has threatened to close it again amid escalating regional tensions involving Israel and Lebanon.
Who’s at the table
Iran’s delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alongside him. On the American side, Vice President JD Vance heads the team, flanked by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Qatar and Pakistan are serving as mediators.
Previous talks took place across Oman, Geneva, and Pakistan from 2025 through mid-2026, producing what observers have called a fragile interim deal framework. The current negotiations follow months of conflict that began in February 2026.
