AGENCIES

Iran yesterday warned the United States to “be careful” after President Donald Trump threatened to strike the Islamic republic over its support for Hezbollah, even as the arch-foes held talks in Switzerland seeking a deal to permanently end the Middle East war.

The negotiations to end a war that sowed chaos across the Middle East and rattled the global economy are meant to trigger a 60-day period to settle broader issues that have dogged US-Iranian relations for decades.

But disagreement over key sticking points and the threat of renewed fighting in Lebanon weighed on the talks, with Washington and Tehran exchanging threats in parallel with the negotiations.

“They would do better to be careful with their statements; our armed forces are ready to respond to them in a different manner. No matter what they say, we are the ones who act,” Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.

US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike Iran if it did not “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile reiterated that troops would remain in south Lebanon “as long as necessary”.

Netanyahu also repeated vows that he would “not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons”, while Iran’s state broadcaster said the nuclear programme had not been discussed yesterday.

“No negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme took place during the 80-minute first round of talks,” the broadcaster said, adding that it was not clear whether the talks would continue or be suspended.

It said the focus had been on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, and the situation in Lebanon, adding that the Iranian delegation refused to begin the meeting until journalists left the room.

US Vice President JD Vance had earlier expressed hope of turning a “new leaf” during the talks.

Flanked by US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the luxury Swiss resort Burgenstock, Vance hailed “a historic meeting”, adding: “The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together?

“Can we turn over a new leaf? Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently?

“Or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but it’s certainly very much something that can happen.”

SEE PAGE 6 COL 4