U.S. Vice President Vance Says Strait of Hormuz Is Open After Iran Talks
Vance Announces Strait of Hormuz Reopening
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the Strait of Hormuz is open and crude oil and natural gas are flowing through. [1] He described the reopening as a major milestone that has lowered gas and oil prices, with millions and millions of barrels of crude and natural gas now flowing through the strait that handles roughly 20 percent of the world's seaborne oil flows. [1] Iran had tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz after Israel and the U.S. launched their joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. [1] The U.S. imposed a naval blockade targeting ships going to and from Iran. [1] Vance said the U.S. negotiating team wanted to build a mechanism for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. [1]
Iran Agrees to IAEA Inspector Access
Vance also said that the Iranians have agreed to invite the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into their country. [1] Calling this a major milestone, Vance said it is the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran. [1]
Progress in U.S.-Iran Talks in Switzerland
U.S. and Iranian negotiators, under Qatari and Pakistani mediation, began their talks on Sunday at the Buergenstock mountain resort in central Switzerland. [1] The talks follow last week's Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding that mandates immediate termination of military operations on all fronts including Lebanon and aims for a final peace agreement within 60 days. [1] Vance said the U.S. negotiating team working with the Iranians, the Qataris, and the Pakistanis made great progress on Sunday. [1] The U.S. negotiating team will continue to work with the Iranians, the Qataris, and the Pakistanis at the technical level in Switzerland and technical negotiations will continue over the weeks and days to come, Vance said. [1] Negotiators made great progress on the first day and will continue technical-level work in Switzerland on nuclear issues, economic matters, and demining the strait. [1] The parties agreed to establish a high-level committee, which will provide political oversight on the mediation. [4] The committee has also agreed on a roadmap toward reaching a final deal within 60 days, laying the foundation for the immediate commencement of further technical talks. [4] The parties agreed to create a de-confliction cell involving the parties and the Lebanese Republic, facilitated by the mediators, to ensure adherence to the termination of military operations in Lebanon. [4]
Swiss Government Welcomes Developments
Switzerland said it welcomes the constructive progress made during talks between Iran, the United States and the mediators that continued throughout Sunday night at the Buergenstock resort in Switzerland. [4] The Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country welcomes the establishment of a high-level committee by the parties under the MoU signed by the United States and Iran, calling it a positive step toward further political and technical processes. [4] The foreign ministry said the agreement on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days creates the conditions for the immediate resumption of new technical discussions. [4] Switzerland remains ready to support this process. [4]
U.S. and UN Warn of Atrocities in Sudan
The United States on Monday warned that mass atrocities could soon be perpetrated in Sudan as paramilitary forces encircle the city of El-Obeid. [2] The majority-Muslim southern city, in the Kordofan region of Sudan, has been under siege for several months by the Rapid Support Forces, which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023. [2] The United States is deeply concerned by reports that the RSF and their allied forces are massing forces around El Obeid, the US State Department said. [2] There are alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent. [2] The UN Security Council on Saturday expressed the same concerns and called on paramilitary forces encircling El-Obeid to back down. [2] The United Nations has voiced fears that there could be a repeat of atrocities committed during the October 2025 assault on the Sudanese city of El-Fasher, which it said bore hallmarks of genocide. [2] The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million from their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises. [2] The RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering, the US statement added. [2]
Hamas Meets French Officials on Palestinian Issues
Senior leaders of Hamas' political bureau held a highly confidential meeting with a French delegation, according to a Monday report from Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. [3] It reported that the meeting took place recently in an unspecified country in the Middle East. [3] Two Palestinian sources spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, one from Palestinian civil society elements who maintain working relations with France and other European countries, and the other from a Palestinian organization close to Hamas. [3] They described the meeting as top secret, adding that some Palestinian factions were only informed shortly before or after it was held. [3] This marks the first reported meeting of Hamas leaders with European officials since the October 7 massacre. [3] A source from Palestinian civil society said the talks were largely focused on Palestinian internal affairs, improving national reconciliation, and advancing a political process aimed at ending the conflict with Israel. [3] The source also told Asharq Al-Awsat that discussions also touched on supporting establishing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, meaning the pre-Six-Day War armistice lines. [3]
What to watch next: Technical negotiations will continue for the remainder of the week at the Buergenstock resort on all issues, including nuclear and economic talks as well as demining the Strait of Hormuz.
