US and Iran begin talks on initial peace deal in Switzerland

Under the deal, Iran was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping channel through which 20% of the world's oil and natural gas travels. Its effective closure had driven up fuel prices and disrupted the global economy. The US also agreed to lift a military blockade on ships going to and from Iranian ports.The initial deal also included a $300bn (£224bn) plan for Iran's "reconstruction", and the US terminating "all types of sanctions" on it.But the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, the main reason stated by the US for the conflict, is still to be negotiated. In Trump's first term, he withdrew the US from an Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed economic sanctions.Under this week's initial deal, fighting was also supposed to stop on all fronts, but deadly conflict continued between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, despite the deal and a ceasefire agreed by the two sides on Friday.Since the deal was signed, Israeli air strikes have killed at least 67 people, while Hezbollah attacks have killed five Israeli soldiers.Iran accused the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire, and said it would close the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday in response.However, some vessels appeared to be entering, exiting and transiting the strait on Sunday, according to location data on the maritime tracking website MarineTraffic.