U.S.-Iran Talks Stalled; Tensions Flare Again in the Strait of Hormuz

Summary:

U.S.-Iran negotiations remain on hold; Iran, angered by Israeli military strikes on Lebanon, has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz......

Highlights

1. Iran-U.S. negotiations remain suspended.

2. UK Business Secretary denies reports that Starmer plans to resign on Monday.

3. Iran's Revolutionary Guard says the war is not over and that deterrence for the next 50 years must be secured, while claiming the U.S. and Israel have reached a stalemate.

4. Iran and the United States did not discuss nuclear issues during their first round of direct talks.

5. Iranian President reiterates that Iran will never give up its uranium enrichment rights.

6. Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Details

Iran-U.S. Negotiations Remain Suspended

According to Iranian sources on June 22, a source familiar with the matter said that negotiations between Iran and the United States in Switzerland began at around 15:00 local time on June 21. After approximately 90 minutes of discussions, the talks were suspended for a 30-minute recess to allow each delegation to conduct internal consultations. However, following what Iran described as threatening remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Iranian delegation refused to return to the negotiating table.

Despite the interruption, mediators from Qatar and Pakistan have continued their efforts, with both sides exchanging messages through intermediaries. Mediation efforts are ongoing, although no final outcome has yet been reached.

During the negotiations, the Iranian delegation lodged formal protests over what it described as U.S. violations of previous commitments, particularly those related to Article 1 of the memorandum of understanding.

Iran also urged Washington to accelerate the implementation of its commitments, including the release of frozen Iranian assets and the issuance of sanctions waivers for Iranian oil exports. Regarding the nuclear issue, Tehran stressed that negotiations on nuclear matters could only begin after the United States fulfilled its obligations under Articles 1, 4, 10, and 11 of the memorandum.

UK Business Secretary Denies Reports of Starmer's Planned Resignation

UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle said on Sunday that he had no reason to believe Prime Minister Keir Starmer intended to announce his resignation on Monday.

Kyle said he had held a "frank" discussion with Starmer on Friday. Earlier, The Observer reported that Starmer was expected to resign on Monday and unveil a timetable for his departure. A government source had also said that Starmer remained focused on carrying out his duties as prime minister.

Although more than 100 Labour MPs have called on Starmer to resign or set a departure timetable, and Andy Burnham's by-election victory has given him the ability to launch a leadership challenge, Kyle's latest remarks reinforced expectations that Starmer will remain in office.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Says the War Is Not Over

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the war and defensive operations have not yet ended and that the conflict must conclude in a manner that guarantees Iran's deterrence capability for the next 50 years while safeguarding the rights of the Iranian people and the resistance front.

The IRGC claimed that by the fifteenth day of the conflict, the United States and Israel had realized that the situation was spiraling out of control and had fallen into a stalemate. It cited factors including domestic turmoil in the United States, exhaustion and inadequate preparedness of U.S. forces, the absence of a military solution for the Strait of Hormuz, congressional resistance, insufficient support from allies, and international pressure led by countries such as Spain.

The IRGC further claimed that Iranian forces had severely damaged some of America's most advanced military equipment and that Iran's international standing and prestige had been significantly enhanced by the conflict. It stressed that neither the Strait of Hormuz nor Iran's regional sovereignty could be compromised and described the United States as a defeated actor with no viable options remaining.

First Round of Direct Iran-U.S. Talks Did Not Address Nuclear Issues

Iran's state television reported on June 21 that the four-party meeting involving Iranian and U.S. representatives, with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, was temporarily suspended after 80 minutes for a break and internal consultations.

According to the report, contrary to claims made by some foreign media outlets, the first round of talks did not include discussions on Iran's nuclear program. Instead, the negotiations focused primarily on implementing Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding and giving priority to issues related to Lebanon.

Iranian President Reiterates Commitment to Uranium Enrichment Rights

In a video broadcast by Iranian media on June 21, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would never relinquish its right to enrich uranium and that the United States would ultimately be forced to accept that reality.

Pezeshkian said Washington could not ignore Iran's legitimate rights. He also argued that President Trump's stance had undergone a complete reversal. According to Pezeshkian, Trump had previously demanded Iran's unconditional surrender and denied its rights, but later acknowledged that Iran did possess such rights, demonstrating that the United States could not disregard Iran's position.

Iran Closes the Strait of Hormuz Again over Israeli Attacks on Lebanon

Iranian and U.S. delegations are scheduled to hold technical talks in Switzerland on Sunday in an effort to pave the way for a final peace agreement. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has reportedly departed for Switzerland to participate in the negotiations.

Despite the extension of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday, Israeli forces continued strikes in eastern and southern Lebanon. Since late Friday night, the attacks have reportedly killed at least 27 people and injured 26 others, prompting strong dissatisfaction from Iran.

Iran announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing the United States' failure to fulfill the first commitment in the memorandum of understanding and Israel's continued violations of the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, Iran's armed forces said Israel's ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon had resulted in heavy civilian casualties and that Washington had failed to honor its commitments under the memorandum. As a result, Tehran decided to close the Strait of Hormuz as an initial response to what it described as hostile breaches of trust, warning that additional measures would follow if aggression continued.

However, U.S. Central Command later stated that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remained uninterrupted. A total of 55 commercial vessels reportedly transited the waterway during the day, transporting large quantities of goods and more than 17 million barrels of crude oil to global markets. The U.S. military said it would continue monitoring the situation to ensure the free flow of maritime traffic.

President Trump also stated on social media that no transit fees would be charged in the Strait of Hormuz during the 60-day temporary ceasefire period or afterward, provided that the relevant agreements are successfully implemented.

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