Iran Closes Hormuz Again as Vance Flies to Switzerland for Nuclear Talks

Iran's joint military command announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon, even as US Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for Bürgenstock, Switzerland to lead direct negotiations with an Iranian delegation. The talks aim to flesh out details of an interim Memorandum of Understanding that includes reopening Hormuz, a reported $300 billion reconstruction framework for Iran, and a US commitment to lift sanctions, with Iran's nuclear program left for resolution within 60 days. Iran's Parliament speaker simultaneously arrived in Switzerland for the talks, signaling that Tehran has not walked away from the table despite the Hormuz closure. Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich stated the IDF will remain in Lebanon for years regardless of US demands, complicating the diplomatic environment. The situation is fluid: the closure appears to be a pressure tactic coinciding with, rather than replacing, the negotiating track.