White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Switzerland, where the first round of talks with Iran on a potential nuclear deal was expected to take place Sunday, U.S. officials told Axios. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also traveled to Switzerland on Saturday to participate. The discussions were initially scheduled for Friday but were postponed due to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and it remains unclear if a new time has been confirmed.
The talks hang in the balance as conflict in Lebanon resumes. Hezbollah launched about 50 projectiles toward Israeli soldiers, claiming they were advancing near a southern Lebanese town. Israel responded with dozens of strikes, killing at least 16 people, and called the attacks a ceasefire violation. Araghchi told counterparts on Friday that the Lebanon ceasefire is a "make or break" issue for U.S.-Iran negotiations, according to a source from one of the mediating countries.
Meanwhile, Iran announced it will close the Strait of Hormuz, alleging U.S. failure to curb Israeli attacks on Lebanon violated a recent ceasefire deal. This marks the first major crisis since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding this week. However, a senior U.S. defense official said the military has not observed any Iranian movements reflecting an actual closure of the strait.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, a key mediator between Washington and Tehran, is also involved in efforts to salvage the talks. The Iranian delegation left Tehran shortly after the armed forces announced the Hormuz closure, adding to the geopolitical friction. U.S. officials had hoped a renewed Lebanon ceasefire on Friday would allow negotiations to proceed, but the renewed violence threatens that window.
Critics argue that the simultaneous crises in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz risk overshadowing the nuclear talks, with Iran potentially using both as leverage. The outcome likely depends on whether the U.S. can broker a stable Lebanon ceasefire before the Sunday dialogue begins.