US-Iran talks to begin Sunday in Switzerland as Tehran closes the strait over Lebanon fighting
TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Iran delivers two quick blows to tires interim agreement On Saturday, we were outraged by the continued attacks by the United States and Israel. Lebanonsaying it was closed Strait of Hormuz and announced that while negotiators traveled to Switzerland for talks, it was unlikely that anything much would happen there.
Meanwhile, key mediator Pakistan said technical-level talks with the participation of Qatari mediators will begin in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday.
In Tehran’s first salvo, Iran’s joint military command said the strait was closed, citing Israeli attacks, US “malicious intent” and “blatant violation of its commitments” by not ending the strait. war. In the statement made on state television, it was warned that “if the attack continues, next steps are planned.”
Shortly thereafter, state television announced that Iran’s negotiating team would travel to Switzerland, originally planned for Friday. State media said the team included the Speaker of Parliament Muhammad Bagher QalibafForeign Minister Abbas Araghchi and central bank and oil officials, among others.
There was no immediate comment from the United States.
As uncertainty increases, Iranian delegation heads to talks
But State Department spokesman Esmail Bagahei signaled that little could happen until Iran feels the United States is complying with the agreement.
“So this trip is about demanding that the other side fulfill its obligations,” he said, adding that negotiations towards a final agreement would begin only after basic commitments are met. Otherwise, “then the memorandum of understanding as a whole will be compromised,” he said.
In Washington, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that top US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Switzerland and working on technical details of expected talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
Vance told Fox News that he expected to travel to Switzerland “in the next few days,” but acknowledged that “it’s always a delicate dance of coordination.”
As part of efforts to revive direct talks, Pakistani Interior Minister Muhsin Naqvi met Araghchi in Tehran early Saturday, according to officials in Islamabad who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Meanwhile, the global economy is bracing for more uncertainty.
Shortly after Iran’s statement, which it did not address, the US military said commercial ship traffic through the strait continued on Saturday, with 55 commercial ships “carrying large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets.”
It was not clear when they crossed during the day.
Ships began transiting following the interim US-Iran agreement signed at the beginning of the week; This was a turning point that left many questions unanswered.
At least 16 people died in Israeli attacks in Lebanon
A Hezbollah official in Lebanon told the Associated Press that Iran had informed the militant group that Tehran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Israel publicly announced it would abide by a “comprehensive ceasefire” in Lebanon and end military operations there. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
Early on Saturday, at least 16 people, including two children, were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, hours after reports of a ceasefire agreement there emerged. Lebanon’s National News Agency said seven people were trapped under the rubble following the attacks that hit the southern city of Nabatiyeh and surrounding villages.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health later announced that the death toll in the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah has exceeded 4,000.
Negotiators were scrambling to stop the conflict after intense fighting on Friday killed at least 47 people and four Israeli soldiers in Lebanon.
An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously in accordance with regulations, said Hezbollah fired more than 50 shells at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight. The Israeli military said it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets and militants in southern Lebanon, including Hezbollah command centers.
On Friday, Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter said Israel would “strictly adhere to the immediate ceasefire” if Hezbollah complies with the agreement and ceases hostilities.
On Saturday, Hezbollah said it was committed to a ceasefire but accused Israel of violating the ceasefire several times on Friday night. In the statement made by the military wing of the group, it was stated that the ceasefire would be respected but that it would also repel the attacks of Israeli soldiers.
Conflict could sink US-Iran deal
a new US-backed round of negotiations Talks between the Lebanese government and Israel are expected to take place in Washington next week.
Hezbollah and Israel went to war two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran together with Hezbollah on February 28. Launching rockets and drones In Northern Israel and Israel Capturing large areas of southern Lebanon.
Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is signing the agreement, which calls for a halt to military operations in Lebanon and respect for the country’s sovereignty.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu He promised to keep Israeli forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel was eliminated. Hezbollah has refused to stop its attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon, which Iran says is a condition of the deal.
Clashes continue on the Israel-Lebanon border
Four members of a family were killed in an attack on the village of Barish: parents and two children. A body was recovered from a collapsed house in Arab Salim village, while a person on a motorcycle and a Lebanese soldier lost their lives in drone attacks in Doueir and Kfar Rumman villages. 9 people lost their lives in the attacks in Kannarit, Sohmor and Şehur villages.
Smoke rose into the sky over southern Lebanon and Israeli jets flew low over the coastal city of Tire. Residents told The Associated Press that they were glad Tire was liberated in recent days, but now they were reminded that the war is not over.
“If there is a ceasefire, our whole life will change,” said Hussein Khoshman, one of the local residents.
Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment on the ceasefire efforts.
Military spokesman Brig. General Effie Defrin said Israeli forces were operating in the “forward defense zone” and would continue to do so.
___
Mroue reported from Beirut and Munir from Islamabad. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Seung Min Kim in Washington and Jamey Keaten in Zurich, Switzerland, contributed to this report.
