Peace talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland faced fresh uncertainty after the Iranian delegation reportedly walked out of negotiations in protest against President Donald Trump’s warnings and military threats. Tehran accused Washington of violating key conditions and insisted that frozen Iranian assets be released and restrictions on oil exports lifted before further progress can be made on a nuclear agreement. Trump warned Iran to rein in its regional proxy groups or face stronger military action, while Iranian officials responded that they would not be intimidated and were prepared to retaliate if necessary. Despite mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan, tensions remain high. The diplomatic standoff pushed global crude oil prices higher, with international oil crossing $81 per barrel. Meanwhile, the US and Iran exchanged competing claims over shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route. Separately, a major explosion occurred at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility. Authorities attributed the incident to a technical malfunction and reported no casualties.


