Day 114 of Iran War: US and Iranian Delegations Meet in Switzerland

On May 24 (local time), U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iran, days after the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. The 114-day conflict has pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel and shaken international markets.

The latest round of negotiations, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, was scheduled for May 24 as Israel stepped up airstrikes on Lebanon, killing at least 83 people on May 23 alone. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. The Iranian delegation, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has also arrived in Switzerland.

Diplomacy

• The U.S. and Iran will hold high-level talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on May 24, with the U.S. delegation led by Vice President Vance. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also participating. Before departing, Vance expressed hope for progress on the nuclear issue and a ceasefire in Lebanon.
• The Iranian delegation, led by Ghalibaf and Araghchi, said its main goal is to ensure all parties fully implement the interim agreement to end the war.
• An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the delegation will demand that the U.S. fulfill its commitments under the MoU and clarify implementation methods.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir have arrived in Burgenstock. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it will continue to support the implementation of agreements between Iran and the U.S.
• Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is also joining the talks as Israeli attacks on Lebanon risk derailing the agreement signed electronically by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on May 22.
• Egypt will host a four-way meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, reflecting efforts by regional powers to resolve the crisis through regional diplomacy rather than outside intervention.

In Iran

• An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, Mohammad Mokhbar, warned that Tehran will not accept a paper agreement if Washington does not fully implement its commitments. He wrote on X that the U.S. understands the language of economics and cost-benefit better, stressing that if the deal remains only on paper, Middle East energy flows will stall.
• Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran said the Iranian delegation will emphasize that they will not proceed with the MoU unless Israel complies with the agreement, and the U.S. must take responsibility for ensuring this.
• Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the oil sector will be a critical test for any peace agreement with the U.S. if Western parties commit to implementation. He noted that Iran has hundreds of investment projects ready to sign.
• The coach of Iran's national football team criticized the increasingly difficult conditions for preparation ahead of the World Cup match against Belgium on May 24, as Iran is forced to stay in Tijuana, Mexico, and travel to the U.S. for the game.

In the U.S.

• President Trump said there will be no toll for the Strait of Hormuz unless collected by the U.S., after the IRGC announced the closure of the waterway that carries one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied gas.
• Trump's technology adviser David Sacks defended the U.S.-Iran MoU, calling it a huge achievement and a better path than prolonged conflict. He rejected calls for escalation, arguing that invading Iran would require a million troops and would be a suicide mission.
• Democratic lawmakers continued to criticize Trump's handling of the war with Iran. Representative Johnny Olszewski (Maryland) called the war a disaster and said the deal with Iran is already fraying.

In Lebanon

• Five people were killed, including a child, a woman, and two elderly, in an Israeli airstrike on the village of Sohmor in Lebanon's western Bekaa valley. Two Palestinians were also killed in Rashidieh, Tyre district.
• According to the Times of Israel, an Israeli soldier was killed and 13 wounded after a barrage of rockets and drones attacked their position at Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon.
• Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to cease fire in Lebanon, except for ongoing clashes near Nabatieh at the Ali al-Taher hill.