Iran's delegation remains at the negotiating table in Switzerland, journalist Barak Ravid reported Sunday evening — directly contradicting Tehran's earlier claims that it had withdrawn from talks with the US due to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Despite Tehran's public claims that it had withdrawn from negotiations with the United States in Switzerland, the Iranian delegation has in fact remained at the talks, journalist Barak Ravid reported Sunday evening, citing a diplomat participating in the talks. The report comes hours after a senior Iranian official hinted Sunday that Foreign Minister Araghchi was considering a trip to Switzerland.
This evening's confirmation updates a thread that has shifted rapidly. On Friday Jun 19, 11:56 Jerusalem, as The Zioneer reported, Iran officially announced it was canceling the Switzerland talks — citing Israeli strikes in Nabatieh in response to a Hezbollah violation, which it said breached a diplomatic memorandum of understanding. By Saturday Jun 20, 10:38 Jerusalem, as The Zioneer reported, Tehran was conditioning nuclear talks on a Lebanon ceasefire and considering a Switzerland trip; a desk-reviewed report questioned whether this marked a shift in US policy. By Sunday 20:00 Jerusalem, a first thread item (same report) had a diplomat telling Ravid that Iran had not withdrawn and talks were still ongoing. Now, at Sunday evening, that same journalist confirms: the delegation remains at the table.
As The Zioneer has reported over the past week, these talks form part of a broader, fluid diplomatic picture. On Sunday Jun 14, 17:27 Jerusalem, US envoy Waltz said Trump fully intends to close an Iran deal but noted Hezbollah does not like the concessions Tehran is making. On Sunday 08:30 Jerusalem, analyst Bardugo warned that Iran is trying to incorporate Lebanon into any deal and called for Israel's inclusion at the decision table. On Sunday 20:17 Jerusalem, former Trump envoy Ortagus assessed that a presidential tweet marks a policy shift to hold Iran directly responsible if Hezbollah attacks.
What remains unclear: whether Iran's public cancellation on Friday was a negotiating posture or a bluff, and what the formal status of the talks — direct or backchannel — actually is. The discrepancy between Tehran's announced withdrawal and the diplomat's on-record confirmation of continued participation has not yet been resolved by any official Iranian statement.
3 developments
- StrongIran indefinitely postpones Switzerland talks; 'later date' said
- StrongIran says Trump threat froze negotiations in Switzerland
- StrongIran confirms it will attend Switzerland talks, demands US enforce halt to Israeli Lebanon strikes
- DevelopingIranian negotiators meet Swiss counterparts ahead of US talks
Source and signal
- Internal intake