US envoy headed for Switzerland, Israeli strikes on Lebanon threaten talks | News
Negotiations Between U.S. and Iran Postponed Amid Rising Tensions
Published June 20, 2026
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, are preparing for negotiations with Iran in Switzerland, following the postponement of talks scheduled for Thursday. This development occurs amid increasing pressure from Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
Reports indicate that Witkoff is en route to Switzerland, with additional confirmation from Axios citing an unnamed U.S. official. CNN also reported that these diplomatic efforts aim to resume technical discussions related to an initial peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Kushner was expected to join Witkoff in Switzerland, with CNN noting that he may already be on the ground. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance, initially slated to participate, has postponed his trip, according to a statement from the White House.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is anticipated to arrive in Switzerland on Saturday, although these plans may be subject to change, sources told Axios. A representative from a mediating nation reported that Araghchi underscored the necessity of a ceasefire in Lebanon for the success of the U.S.-Iran negotiations, indicating that it could significantly impact the ongoing discussions.
No new date for the postponed negotiations has been publicly announced.
Violence Erupts in Southern Lebanon
As diplomatic activities unfold, violence continues to escalate in southern Lebanon, where at least five individuals have been killed due to Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks. These assaults occurred shortly after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group came into effect.
According to the Lebanese state news agency NNA, Israeli forces targeted multiple locations in the Nabatieh area overnight, causing the destruction of residential structures. Artillery fire was also reported in the vicinity prior to dawn.
The Israeli strikes threaten to undermine the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at concluding hostilities, which explicitly identifies ending the conflict in Lebanon as a critical component of the broader ceasefire arrangement.
Israel and Lebanon engaged in direct talks in April for the first time since 1993, with subsequent discussions held in June. Although these meetings paused fighting, they have notably excluded Hezbollah, limiting meaningful progress.
The Lebanese government has been advocating for the disarmament of Hezbollah as part of a U.S.-backed strategy, while also pressing for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. However, a recent agreement reached in June called only for Hezbollah’s repositioning north of the Litani River, with no stipulation for a complete Israeli withdrawal.
