Iran says technical talks with U.S. in Switzerland have ended

Iran announced that the technical talks in Switzerland linked to its negotiations with the United States have concluded, the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Tuesday. The discussion reportedly took place as part of the broader U.S.-Iran negotiating track, and Reuters said the technical round ended overnight.

During the same period, President Donald Trump and Iran’s leadership gave different accounts of how any Iranian funds released under the Swiss understandings would be used. Trump said the money would be used only to buy food, and only through the United States and American farmers. He stressed that, in his view, the funds should not strengthen Iran’s military.

"Iran should not use oil revenues to rebuild its army, but use the money to buy food for the Iranian people," Trump said. In Tehran, the central bank governor rejected that interpretation, saying the signed documents on frozen Iranian assets do not obligate Iran to buy agricultural products from the United States.

He added that Iran could use the second tranche of frozen assets to buy any goods not under sanctions. He also said that if American farm products offer better price and quality, there would be no barrier to purchasing them. Separately, social media footage showed Pakistan’s prime minister and army chief meeting with the Iranian delegation.