The first round of high-level talks between US and Iranian officials in Switzerland on Monday was marked by a series of awkward moments and diplomatic snubs, despite both sides agreeing on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days.

One of the most talked-about moments involved US Vice President JD Vance and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Visuals from the Burgenstock resort showed Vance standing alongside Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif when the Qatari leader greeted Sharif with a hug before embracing Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Asim Munir. Although Vance appeared to exchange a few words with Al Thani, the two did not shake hands or embrace.

Another tense moment reportedly occurred when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed Sharif that the Iranian delegation would not participate in a planned photo-op or handshake with the American delegation. Later, Sharif was seen in conversation with Munir before Vance approached the two leaders. Notably, no photographs emerged showing Vance and Araghchi together during the talks.

The negotiations began under heightened tensions. Tehran had announced another closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while US President Donald Trump repeated threats to resume attacks on Iran.

Despite the strained atmosphere, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said both sides agreed to a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days. According to a joint statement released by Qatar’s foreign ministry, technical discussions will continue throughout the week at the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock.

The statement said the parties also agreed on a mechanism to help end the fighting in Lebanon and established a communication channel to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels through the contested Strait of Hormuz.

Talks between US and Iranian officials reportedly began on Sunday and continued into the early hours of Monday under the framework of a memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend a fragile ceasefire for at least another 60 days.

However, US and Iranian accounts of the discussions differed. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing an informed source, reported that after Trump’s latest threats became public, the Iranian delegation refused to return to the negotiating room, with messages instead being exchanged through Pakistani and Qatari mediators.

According to the report, Iranian officials insisted that progress on nuclear negotiations would require implementation of other parts of the memorandum, including the release of frozen Iranian assets and US waivers permitting Iranian oil exports.