US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were travelling to Switzerland for talks aimed at advancing the US-Iran peace process, although renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon have cast doubt over the agreement, according to Axios.
The negotiations are intended to build on this week’s interim 14-point agreement and lay the groundwork for a lasting regional settlement to end the conflict that began with US-Israeli military action on February 28.
However, only hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect, Israeli air and drone strikes reportedly killed at least five people in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.
A sustained halt to hostilities in Lebanon is a key condition for launching the planned 60-day US-Iran negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme and other outstanding issues. The outcome of those talks is considered crucial to fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring stability to global oil supplies.