Iranian officials abruptly ended high-level peace negotiations with the United States on Sunday after a vehement warning from President Donald Trump concerning the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The talks, held at the Büergenstock resort in Switzerland, lasted only 80 minutes before collapsing amid escalating tensions.

The discussions were the first conducted under a memorandum of understanding signed a week prior aimed at addressing key issues between the two countries, including Iran’s nuclear program and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Vice President JD Vance, leading the U.S. delegation, had initially expressed hope for a renewed diplomatic relationship with Tehran.

However, the mood deteriorated sharply when Trump issued a forceful threat toward Iran’s negotiators. According to reports, the president cautioned that if Iran attempted to close the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments—the United States might seize control of the waterway and respond with overwhelming military force. Trump was quoted as saying, “You won’t even make it back to your f--king country,” while warning, “We may take over the Strait, if we have to. I’ll blow the s--t out of them.”

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had announced the previous day that it was shutting down the strait due to ongoing conflict in Lebanon, where Israel is engaged in combat against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group. Iran’s delegation insisted that the conflict in Lebanon must be resolved before substantive negotiations could continue. They sought to prioritize discussions on Lebanon during Sunday’s talks, a shift from the initial agenda.

Trump also addressed the issue on his social media platform, demanding that Iran restrain Hezbollah’s actions and threatening increased military strikes if the group’s activities did not cease. “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” he posted, referencing recent U.S. military actions.

Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s remarks as signs of desperation, stating on X that Tehran did not take the threats seriously. He warned that any aggressive move by the United States would be met with reciprocal force, urging caution in Washington’s rhetoric.

The abrupt termination of talks highlights the volatility of U.S.-Iran relations amid regional conflicts and strategic disputes over nuclear activities and maritime control. Both sides remain entrenched in their positions, complicating prospects for renewed diplomatic engagement in the near term.