Trump and Iran's negotiator exchanged threats amid US-Iran talks in Switzerland. Trump warned of attacking Iran over Hezbollah clashes; Iran dismissed it. Despite initial deal, fighting surged, Israel struck Lebanon, and Iran shut Hormuz, though ships still pass.
Admin User
21 June 2026
By Saha
President Donald Trump has exchanged warnings with Iran's lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as a first round of direct talks was held in Switzerland after the countries signed an initial agreement to end the war.
Trump threatened to attack Iran if it did not restrain the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has been clashing with Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
In response, Ghalibaf dismissed the threat and said Iran's armed forces were prepared for confrontation.
Last week's initial agreement includes a commitment to reach a final deal within 60 days, as well as an end to fighting on "all fronts" - including in Lebanon - and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, there has since been an upsurge in fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, and Israeli air strikes that the health ministry says have killed dozens of Lebanese including women and children.
That escalation led the US to declare a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday. Continued clashes and air strikes prompted Iran on Saturday to announce it had shut the Strait of Hormuz - though tracking data shows vessels have continued to pass through it.
As the talks in Lucerne between the US and Iranian delegations began, Trump posted that Iran "must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble" and threatened to "hit Iran very hard again" if they did not.
Ghalibaf responded by saying: "Don't they think that if their threats had any effect, they wouldn't be in this desperate situation today?... No matter how much they talk, it is we who take action."
On Sunday, fighting was reported to have diminished but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Israeli military would remain in southern Lebanon for as long as is necessary to protect northern Israel.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected any Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon and said Hezbollah would defend itself
Admin User
21 June 2026 · 2 min read
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