Shortly after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that an Iranian delegation will travel to Switzerland to demand adherence to the terms of the digitally signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States. This development follows continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Iran's Stance on the MoU
Speaking with the Tasnim News Agency, the spokesperson emphasized that Iran has fulfilled its commitments under the MoU. He asserted that the United States should ensure the cessation of hostilities by Israel. According to the agency, Baqaei warned that the violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon "puts the entire Memorandum of Understanding in crisis," adding that Washington "failed to uphold its commitment to restrain the Zionist Regime."
Delegation's Objective
"The Iranian delegation will travel to Switzerland to follow up and demand the implementation of the other party's commitments. We have adhered to our commitments, and the opposing side is obligated to compel the Zionist regime to cease its attacks on Lebanon," the spokesperson said, as reported by Tasnim. He further affirmed that Iran aims to implement the peace deal on the principle of "commitment for commitment," warning of repercussions upon breach of terms.
"Iran will implement the agreement based on the principle of 'commitment for commitment.' The other party's breach of commitment will be met with reciprocal actions from Iran," the agency quoted him as saying.
Postponement of Talks
Baqaei confirmed that the scheduled talks in Switzerland on Friday were put on hold after US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed the MoU digitally on Wednesday. "The scheduled trip for Friday was canceled due to the digital signing of the memorandum of understanding by the presidents of the two countries, and no longer had urgency for implementation," he said. He added that the "start of negotiations for final agreement is conditional on the implementation of the five clauses of the memorandum of understanding."
Swiss Mediation Efforts
Meanwhile, the Swiss Foreign Ministry stated that efforts over negotiations in the US-Iran peace agreement are continuing. According to CNN, the ministry said that diplomats "from various countries" are "continuing their efforts to maintain the dialogue" between Washington and Tehran. While declining to disclose the identities of the participants, the ministry confirmed that Switzerland has offered the Burgenstock resort, located above Lake Lucerne, as a "discreet and reliable setting" to help advance the digitally signed MoU.
Upcoming Negotiations
This comes as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is en route to Switzerland, where the first round of talks aimed at reaching a potential nuclear agreement with Iran is expected to take place, according to Axios. A US official told Axios that Senior Adviser and son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, is already in Switzerland ahead of the anticipated negotiations. Citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter, Axios reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also planning to travel to Switzerland on Saturday to participate in the talks. However, the source cautioned that travel plans could still change depending on developments on the ground. It remains unclear whether a new date has been formally set for the discussions.
