Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Both the US and Iranian delegations are expected in Switzerland on Sunday for talks
- US Vice President JD Vance left on Saturday
- Iran’s delegation, headed by Speaker of Parliament Bagher Qalibaf, is already there
- Talks to take place amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran said it was closing over Israel’s attacks in Lebanon
- Hezbollah and Israel are blaming one another for breaking the latest ceasefire
Read here for the latest developments on the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Sunday, June 21.
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Skip next section US Vice President Vance heads to Switzerland for Iran talks06/21/2026June 21, 2026
US Vice President Vance heads to Switzerland for Iran talks
US Vice President JD Vance has left Washington for talks with Iran in Switzerland.
“I can only be there for a day or two,” Vance told reporters before departing from Joint Base Andrews on Saturday.
“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue … make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue. Those are the two big things that I think we’re to be focused on,” he said.
Vance’s trip was delayed from Friday after Tehran initially canceled its participation in the talks over Israel‘s continued strikes against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Israel confirmed that it was firing at Lebanon on Saturday, but accused Hezbollah of breaking the latest ceasefire and later ordered a halt to fighting in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, Tehran also said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz over Israel’s continued strikes, although the US disputed this, saying that Iran did not control the vital shipping channel and that traffic in the strait was continuing.
Brokered by Pakistan, Sunday’s talks aim to implement a framework deal to end the Iran conflict.
Iran’s delegation is being led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
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Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, citing Israeli attacks in Lebanon and US “bad faith” and “its clear breach of its commitments” by failing to end fighting in Lebanon.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5Fm5JSkip next section Welcome to our coverage06/21/2026June 21, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Sean Sinico Editor
Delegations from the US and Iran will be in the Swiss mountain resort Bürgenstock.
US Vice President JD Vance set off on Saturday to join the other members of his delegation, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
The Iranian delegation was already in Switzerland.
Saturday saw Tehran say it was closing the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
We will be bringing you the latest updates, videos and expert analysis on the conflict in the Middle East throughout the day.
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