The United States and Iran have begun direct negotiations in Switzerland. Vice President Vance and other senior U.S. officials met their Iranian counterparts on Sunday near Lake Lucerne to discuss nuclear weapons and a broader reset of Middle East relations. This is the first round of talks since April, according to Axios. Pakistan and Qatar are mediating. The goal is a sixty day negotiation window focused on limiting Iran's nuclear program and reshaping U.S.-Iran relations fundamentally. The U.S. is offering to unfreeze Iranian assets—starting with six billion dollars held in Qatar—along with oil sales waivers and access for UN nuclear inspectors to Iran's facilities. In return, Iran would open its nuclear program to inspections. But the backdrop is fragile. Iran had threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, and the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is already showing cracks. Vice President Vance acknowledged that Lebanon could derail negotiations, but said the situation is "getting better" and requires "continuous management."

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