US Envoys Arrive in Switzerland for Iran Talks as Israel Fumes Over Peace Deal

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Switzerland to begin high-stakes technical negotiations with Iran, days after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to end a devastating 110-day war.[1][8]

The 14-point "Islamabad Memorandum," brokered largely by Pakistan and Qatar, establishes a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent settlement regarding Iran's nuclear program and crippling US sanctions. Crucially, it mandates an immediate ceasefire on all fronts—including Lebanon—and requires Iran to fully restore commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days.[2][8]

The talks in Switzerland were initially delayed due to flare-ups between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, prompting US Vice President JD Vance to cancel his planned trip to the alpine nation. However, Witkoff and Kushner are now on the ground, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expected to join them to hammer out the complex technical details of sanctions relief and uranium enrichment.[1][6]

For the Trump administration, the immediate victory is economic. The 110-day conflict choked off a fifth of the world's oil supply, spiking gas prices and threatening global growth. Trump boasted Friday that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is already surging, calling the deal a win that avoids a global economic depression.[1][4]

But the diplomatic breakthrough has triggered a seismic rift between Washington and Jerusalem. Israel, which launched the initial strikes alongside the US in February with the goal of dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure and forcing regime change, was largely sidelined during the final negotiations.[3][7]

Across Israel, the sentiment is one of profound betrayal. The deal leaves Iran's regime intact, allows it to retain ballistic missile capabilities, and forces a ceasefire in Lebanon without dismantling Hezbollah. Miriam Adelson's Israel Hayom, a staunchly pro-Trump newspaper, published a blistering op-ed telling the US President: "You betrayed us, the Israelis."[3][5]

The inclusion of Lebanon in the MOU has proven to be the agreement's most fragile component. Israel has continued to launch strikes against Hezbollah targets, arguing the militant group was not explicitly part of the US-Iran deal. Trump has publicly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire, describing the Lebanon truce as "icing on the cake" for broader regional stability.[2][4]

In Tehran, the mood is a mix of relief and deep suspicion. Iranian negotiators secured a key concession: a mutual pledge of non-interference, effectively ending the US pursuit of regime change. However, hardliners remain wary that the US might use the 60-day window to extract nuclear concessions before resuming military pressure, echoing the deep mistrust that has defined US-Iran relations for decades.[6][8]

The ultimate success of the MOU hinges on the nuclear question. The US is demanding that Iran dilute or transfer its highly enriched uranium stockpile in exchange for the lifting of unilateral and UN sanctions. The next 60 days in Switzerland will determine whether the temporary truce hardens into a permanent geopolitical realignment or collapses back into open war.[2][8]