The US and Iran verbally insult each other, but secretly head to Switzerland—this act is all too familiar.

CoinWorld News reported that Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, said that although both the US and Iran claim that the other side has committed violations, both the United States and Iran have sent senior officials to Switzerland for negotiations because both sides have “vested interests” in ending the conflict. Azodi noted that Israel’s attacks on Lebanon violate the memorandum for Iran, and the US may also interpret Tehran’s claim that it wants to close the Strait of Hormuz as a violation of the memorandum of understanding. Azodi also said that Tehran may want to “test and see” whether Washington can rein in Israel and end hostilities in Lebanon.