Iran War Day 116: US-Iran Talks Advance as Iran Claims Permanent Hormuz Control

US-Iran peace talks have entered a critical new phase after the first face-to-face negotiations since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum. Vice President JD Vance says major progress has been made, but a new battle is emerging over control of the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear inspections, and the future of the Middle East.

On Day 116 of the Iran War, US and Iranian officials completed marathon negotiations in Switzerland, launching technical talks on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and maritime security. Vance announced that Iran will allow IAEA inspectors to return, while both sides agreed to establish a direct hotline to prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz from escalating into renewed conflict.

But Iran's chief negotiator also declared that Hormuz will never return to its pre-war status, claiming the strategic waterway will remain under Iranian management. The statement has triggered concern across the Gulf as the United States works to reassure allies worried about the future of global oil supplies and regional security.

Meanwhile, Israel is objecting to a new Lebanon ceasefire mechanism that includes Iran but excludes Israel, raising fears that tensions on the Lebanese border could threaten the wider peace process. Direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations are now beginning as multiple diplomatic tracks race forward simultaneously.

In this episode:

• US-Iran talks at Bürgenstock and what was agreed
• The return of IAEA nuclear inspectors
• Iran's claim of permanent influence over the Strait of Hormuz
• The Gulf states' growing concerns about the deal
• Israel's response to the new Lebanon framework
• Marco Rubio's Middle East diplomatic mission
• The next steps toward a possible US-Iran peace agreement

If you follow the Iran War, US foreign policy, Middle East geopolitics, oil markets, nuclear negotiations, Israel, Lebanon, or global security, this episode provides the latest developments and analysis from Day 116 of the conflict.

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