Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf faced off against US Vice President JD Vance at the negotiating table in Switzerland last Sunday. According to sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal, the tension was sparked by a threatening post from US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform.
Trump had said he would resume attacks if Iran failed to rein in Hezbollah's capabilities in Lebanon. Kalibaf, who did not have his phone with him, was informed of Trump's threat by his aides.
Kalibaf's direct response to Vance
Sources said Kalibaf calmly told Vance that Trump's threats violated the opening paragraph of a memorandum of understanding electronically signed between Washington and Tehran a few days earlier. That paragraph stipulates that neither party will attack the other.
In an interview with Iranian state television, Kalibaf recounted telling Vance: "Your president issued threats today. Understand this, we will never negotiate under threat or pressure." The Iranian official also said the US side requested a new meeting through mediators, but they refused.
Iranian delegation withdrew from direct talks
According to sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Trump's message brought negotiations to the brink of collapse. The Iranian negotiating team withdrew from direct talks after Vance justified the president's move as an explanation of what could happen if Tehran violated the agreement.
A US official, however, argued that Vance called for a break to give the Iranians time to consider proposals, and that Trump's post was unrelated. Vance claimed the post was a response to Iran's "verbal sparring" and aimed to "set the record straight."
Indirect negotiations continue
After Iran announced it had ended the weekend talks, Kalibaf and his delegation left the luxury negotiation building and moved to their small hotel. Sources said indirect negotiations are continuing through Pakistani and Qatari mediators.
The Wall Street Journal reported that mediators warned Trump's social media posts had repeatedly undermined the diplomatic process and tried to persuade Iran to ignore his public rhetoric and focus on private negotiations.
Iranian negotiators reading 'The Art of the Deal'
Trump's unconventional negotiating style has spurred Iranian negotiators into action. According to the Wall Street Journal, the team has started reading Trump's 1987 book "The Art of the Deal," co-written with journalist Tony Schwartz, in which he outlines his tactics as a real estate mogul.
In the book, Trump suggests using tough and unexpected demands to unsettle opponents and extract concessions. Mediators said Iranian negotiators are also consulting a team of psychologists to understand Trump's mindset, while a source close to the matter said Tehran is avoiding psychological speculation and focusing on facts.
Political analysts and mediators note that Trump's noise and threats have so far failed to extract additional concessions from Iran. According to sources, Iran has thwarted US efforts to reference the International Atomic Energy Agency, while Washington insists the agency's role should remain a separate track. The coming days will show whether Trump's negotiating style succeeds on critical issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's nuclear program, and ballistic missiles.
