Witkoff Heads to Switzerland as Lebanon Ceasefire Holds

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are heading to Switzerland for talks on a permanent agreement between the United States and Iran.

The diplomatic move comes after Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, following several days of intense fighting.

The truce follows a memorandum signed earlier this week that halted hostilities and opened a 60-day window to resolve outstanding issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

According to Axios, Witkoff will join Jared Kushner, who is already in Switzerland, while Araghchi is expected to arrive on Saturday. Technical negotiations aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire are expected to begin shortly afterward.

The Lebanon ceasefire was brokered by the United States and Qatar, with Iran's support. Israel, however, has stressed that it is not part of any broader agreement between Washington and Tehran. Despite the halt in hostilities, several key issues remain unresolved, and developments in Lebanon could significantly affect the course of the wider negotiations.

(Reuters, EST)