Washington: A fresh round of US-Iran discussions is expected in Switzerland, with US envoy Steve Witkoff travelling to join talks that aim to restart nuclear negotiations, Axios reported, citing US and diplomatic sources. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also due to travel to Switzerland, the report added.
Witkoff is en route to the Swiss talks to link up with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who is already on site, Axios said. Araghchi planned to travel there on Saturday, according to the same report.
Postponement Amid Regional Tensions
The opening of the talks, originally set for Friday, was delayed amid escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. US Vice President JD Vance postponed his planned trip to Switzerland as tensions rose, as reported by DNA. However, sources with ties to Reuters reported that the two sides had reached a ceasefire.
Israel has not issued an official statement on the pause, but its ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, posted on X: “Israel remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire. If Hezbollah honours the agreement and ceases its hostilities, it will be met with quiet.”
Despite reports of a ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli strikes resumed almost immediately, prompting residents in southern Lebanon to question the ceasefire’s effectiveness.
Lebanon Ceasefire Key Factor
Regional mediators told Axios that events in Lebanon will heavily shape Tehran’s decision to engage. One mediator said Araghchi told several foreign counterparts on Friday that the ceasefire there is a pivotal concern for Iran and could be “make or break” for the future of US‑Iran talks. A different mediator source said Iranian officials want to see the truce firmly established before they agree to travel to Switzerland.
Framework & Stakes
The discussions form part of a recently announced memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to end hostilities across West Asia and serve as a framework to revive nuclear talks. Switzerland, which has long acted as the US protecting power in Iran and has hosted previous nuclear discussions, is playing host again. Ongoing fighting, however, has repeatedly complicated implementation of the MoU and prompted an unusually public rebuke of Israel by US President Donald Trump, Al Jazeera reported.
Agenda & Expectations
Officials say the talks will broadly cover Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security, though no formal agenda has been released. Both sides have described the meeting as “exploratory” and have set modest expectations for immediate breakthroughs.
