Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the “technical talks” its delegation held with Trump administration representatives in Burgenstock, Switzerland, have ended unexpectedly early, even though the round was supposed to continue throughout the week. The talks began earlier in the week and were mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.
At the same time, official Iranian media reported that the head of Iran’s negotiation team confirmed Tehran intends to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive and strategic shipping lanes.
A day earlier, President Donald Trump warned Iran that if it does not meet its commitments, he will act. “If Iran does not live up to the agreement, or if they do not behave properly, I will do what I have to do,” he said at a press conference.
Trump also said the funds being unfrozen for Iran under the understandings would be used only for food purchases from the United States. “All this money comes back to us as food purchases, which they desperately need. They have 91 million people, they cannot feed them. So the money we are releasing will go to our farmers,” he said. Iranian officials rejected that claim. According to the Tasnim news agency, Central Bank Governor Abdulnaser Hemmati said Tehran is not required under the memorandum of understanding to buy agricultural inputs from the United States, and that the unfrozen money will not necessarily be used only for essential goods.
