U.S.-Iran talks just started and Trump is already threatening to attack, causing negotiations to pause

High-level U.S.-Iran talks on their interim deal to end the war had a tense start Sunday in Switzerland as Tehran took offense at comments by President Donald Trump, who threatened to attack and told Iran’s president to watch what he says.

The comments from afar — on social media and to news outlets — complicated efforts by Vice President JD Vance and mediators Pakistan and Qatar to keep Iran engaged in discussions meant to address thorny issues like Tehran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets. Before anything, however, Iran wants to discuss Lebanon, where Israel’s military has been fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, since the deal halts conflict on all fronts. “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump said on social media.

“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” “They would do better to be careful about their statements,” Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said on X after Trump’s comments. “Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner.

They may keep talking, it is we who act.” Iranian state media said talks had entered a “difficult phase” and recessed after the “publication of an insulting message by the U.S.

President.” The Iranian delegation then met with Qatari mediators and left the negotiating site, state media said. Vance and U.

S. negotiators including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, had met with Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for what Iranian state media said was about 80 minutes. An official with knowledge of the talks later told the AP the Iranian delegation remained engaged in the talks and has not indicated to mediators any intention to leave.

The official requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. Iran first wants to focus on Israeli strikes in Lebanon Negotiators are in a 60-day spri