US-Iran talks: Lebanon conflict and nuclear issues are top priorities as meetings begin

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, right, meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict, at the Bürgenstock Resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, in Switzerland, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)

US-Iran talks: Lebanon conflict and nuclear issues are top priorities as meetings begin

CNN-June21,2026

Delegations from both sides and mediators are meeting in Switzerland as fighting in Lebanon threatens to derail agreement.

Here’s the latest

• Talks begin: High-stakes talks between the US and Iran, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, are underway in Switzerland. As he greeted dignitaries in the mountain resort of Bürgenstock, Vice President JD Vance said the US is willing to “fundamentally transform” relations with Tehran. Solidifying a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s nuclear program are among the top priorities for today’s meetings.

• In Lebanon: Israel has been exchanging fire with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, despite a renewed truce. Dozens of people have been reported killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon in the past two days, marking some of the worst bloodshed of the current conflict.

• Strait of Hormuz: The US military says traffic “continues to flow” in the key waterway, despite Iran’s claims yesterday that it closed the strait over what it said were Israeli ceasefire violations in Lebanon and the US’ failure to implement the first clause of their agreement.

Trump says US might “take over” strait if deal not reached, threatens Iranian delegation

By Julia Benbrook

US President Donald Trump looks on after arriving at Paris Orly Airport, south of Paris, on Wednesday.

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump said today the US might “take over” the Strait of Hormuz if it can’t reach a deal with Iran and threatened the Iranian delegation negotiating in Switzerland.

“We may take over the Strait, if we have to,” Trump said during a 20-minute phone call with Fox News. “If they don’t make a deal, we’ll collect tolls.”

On Saturday, Iranian state media reported that Iran’s military command said it will close the strait due to Israel’s alleged violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the US “failing to implement” the first clause of the tentative agreement to end the war.

During the call with Fox News, Trump appeared to threaten a resumption of US bombing in Iran and its negotiators meeting with Vice President JD Vance in Switzerland.

“You close it and you won’t have a country,” Trump said he told Iranian officials about the critical waterway. “You won’t even make it back to your f**king country.”

Trump reiterated that he believes the US could become the “guardian angel” of the strait and take 20% of the oil that passes through.

CNN has reached out to the White House for more details on what taking over the strait would entail.

Trump also threatened Iran again over its proxies in Lebanon.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday morning. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”