US, Iran envoys head to talks as Lebanon ceasefire collapses

BEIRUT / WASHINGTON: Diplomatic efforts to stabilise the Middle East entered a critical phase on Saturday as senior US and Iranian envoys headed to Switzerland for high-level negotiations, even as renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least five people and raised fresh doubts over an already fragile ceasefire.

According to diplomatic sources, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to join indirect and technical talks aimed at transforming a recently agreed interim 14-point framework into a longer-term regional settlement. The proposed deal is intended to end months of conflict and establish mechanisms to prevent further escalation across multiple fronts.

However, the renewed violence in Lebanon has cast a shadow over the negotiations. Lebanese state media reported that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out overnight strikes in the Nabatieh region, destroying residential buildings and damaging infrastructure shortly after a ceasefire was said to have taken effect.

Despite the truce announcement, Israeli artillery continued shelling parts of southern Lebanon into Saturday morning. Israel has not issued an immediate official response to the reports.

The escalation comes at a sensitive moment for regional diplomacy, as the ceasefire in Lebanon is a key condition for launching a 60-day US-Iran negotiation track covering nuclear tensions, sanctions relief, and broader security guarantees.

Under the interim arrangement, all parties are expected to halt military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, though Israel maintains it is not formally part of the agreement.

Meanwhile, diplomatic coordination continues across multiple channels. Switzerland has confirmed it is prepared to facilitate talks, with preparatory work already underway in the alpine resort of Bürgenstock. US Vice President JD Vance reportedly cancelled a planned visit as tensions increased, while other senior officials continue shuttle diplomacy across the region.

Regional actors are also engaging directly. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has travelled to Tehran for meetings with senior Iranian officials, according to Iranian state media, to discuss the progress of US-Iran negotiations and broader regional stability concerns.

In Washington, officials have remained cautious about the outcome of the talks, with the White House declining to confirm travel arrangements for its envoy. Iran has also not publicly confirmed Araghchi’s itinerary.

Analysts warn that the situation remains highly volatile. The fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, ongoing Israeli operations, and unresolved disputes between Tehran and Washington all threaten to derail the diplomatic process before it gains momentum.

Further complicating matters, Russian officials have also weighed in on the conflict, warning that continued escalation could undermine global energy stability and intensify geopolitical tensions.

As envoys prepare to meet in Switzerland, the region remains on edge — caught between diplomacy on paper and violence on the ground, with the prospect of peace still uncertain.