Peace talks between the United States and Iran are beginning in Switzerland, but experts warn that a lot could still go wrong, and there is a serious risk of Iran’s proxies or the US’s allies undermining the deal, forcing war to erupt again.
Vice President JD Vance is leading the long-awaited talks from the US side, opposite Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock. Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan are both involved.
A 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU), the first major step to end the conflict, was agreed a week ago, but hostilities flared again on Friday, shortly after the deal was signed, showing how fragile the peace process is.
Shorts
The MoU called for the Strait of Hormuz to be immediately reopened and a halt to all fighting, including in Lebanon. It also sets out a plan for 60 days of negotiations on key issues including halting or restraining Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as the lifting of international sanctions on Iran.
