[96451] Diplomatic drama: Iran announces end of talks with the US in Switzerland against the backdrop of tensions in Lebanon

Diplomatic contacts and internal disagreements in Iran

In a series of reports from June 23, 2026, Iran announced surprisingly the end of "technical talks" held with the US in Switzerland, as reported in ynet news. At the same time, a senior Iranian official stated that a joint committee has been established with Oman to discuss arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz.

Against the backdrop of reports on the end of the talks, internal disagreements within the political elite in Iran have been exposed. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, publicly spoke out against conservative elements in the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), who claimed that the Mehrabad Airport should be closed to prevent the negotiation team from leaving for Switzerland. As noted in Kan 11 | Arab-Palestinian Desk, Ghalibaf responded critically to these claims.

Ghalibaf defended the necessity of the diplomatic contacts, arguing that "if we had not gone to Switzerland, in every additional moment, the blood of Muslims and Shiites in Lebanon would have been spilled" (according to Ziv Rubinstein - Until the war ends). These remarks correspond to the narrative also presented in Israel News IL, where it was emphasized that despite the internal criticism, official sources claimed firmly that there is "good progress" in the negotiations.

While ynet news presents a position that highlights the cessation of contacts as a sudden step, Ghalibaf's statements, also reported in News from the Field on Telegram, provide a glimpse into the internal political pressure in Iran, as the leadership attempts to justify direct dialogue with Washington as a tool for preventing regional escalation in Lebanon.