US and Iranian negotiators held marathon talks in Switzerland as they worked to launch a 60-day push toward a potential new nuclear agreement.

Why it matters: The near-continuous discussions at the Lake Lucerne Summit suggest both sides remain engaged despite deep disagreements, and may be laying early groundwork for wider talks on regional security, according to an Axios report.

The negotiations, led by Vice President JD Vance and including White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, continued through Sunday night even after Iran claimed on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli ceasefire violations in Lebanon.

State of play: As the talks began at Lake Lucerne, President Donald Trump issued a series of warnings to Iran on Truth Social and in a Fox News interview.

Iranian officials publicly rejected the remarks, but also raised them privately during the discussions, saying they amounted to a breach of Article 1 of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which commits both sides to refrain from threats of force during negotiations.

According to a source from one of the mediating countries and a US diplomat, Iranian officials told reporters they were withdrawing from the talks in protest, but in practice, the negotiations continued throughout the day.

Behind the scenes: The US diplomat said one of the key discussion points was the development of “deconfliction mechanisms in Lebanon” and the enforcement of a ceasefire amid ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military in southern Lebanon.

A mediator source said the Lebanon discussions were “tense,” while broader talks covered “all elements of the nuclear deal,” along with Iran’s statements about the Strait of Hormuz.

The US side said it pressed for guarantees that the waterway would remain open.

“We made clear we want to ensure it remains fully open. We made good progress on that front,” the US diplomat said.

Another diplomat described the talks as “tough but good,” adding that an outline had been formed to guide technical negotiations in the coming weeks.

Zoom in: Officials also discussed how to implement the memorandum of understanding and align both sides on sequencing and commitments, alongside a framework for continued engagement between political leaders and technical teams.

Representatives from the US, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar were said to be broadly satisfied with the progress, according to one diplomat.

“The mediators are helping both sides work through things. We feel this initial round of talks is setting us up for trust building going forward,” the diplomat said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that Pakistani and Qatari mediation had delivered “major progress to end Lebanon War,” and claimed Iran had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports along with some release of frozen assets —claims not confirmed by US officials.

He added: “1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell.”

Zoom out: In a joint statement, Qatari and Pakistani mediators said “encouraging progress has been made” during the roughly 18 hours of negotiations at the Switzerland summit.

They said the two sides agreed to establish a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight, alongside working groups focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, and dispute resolution.

A 60-day roadmap toward a final agreement was also agreed, according to the statement.

The parties further agreed to set up a communication channel on the Strait of Hormuz, intended to operate during negotiations to prevent incidents and ensure safe passage for commercial shipping.

They also agreed to create a deconfliction mechanism involving Lebanon, alongside mediators, aimed at ensuring compliance with the cessation of military operations there.

What’s next: Technical teams are expected to remain in Switzerland through the week as negotiations continue at the working level.

High-stakes negotiations aimed at ending the US-Iran conflict concluded on Monday, as Iran and the United States agreed to establish a “de-confliction cell” to address escalating violence in Lebanon, according to mediators Pakistan and Qatar.

The talks, held in Switzerland and described as the opening stage of a 60-day diplomatic push, adjourned early Monday with lower-level technical discussions expected to continue throughout the week.

Mediators said the proposed coordination mechanism would include the Lebanese government and is intended to “ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon.”

However, it remains unclear whether the arrangement will be sufficient to halt fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

De-escalation effort centred on Lebanon

The proposed de-confliction framework comes amid continued clashes involving Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed anti-Israel group, and Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.

While a recent ceasefire arrangement brokered on Saturday appeared to be holding in parts of the border region, underlying tensions remain unresolved.

A statement from mediators Pakistan and Qatar described the talks as “making major progress,” while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the success of the de-confliction mechanism would serve as the first major test of the negotiations.

Diplomatic friction and sharp rhetoric

The start of the talks was marked by heightened tensions following comments from President Donald Trump, who warned Iran against supporting armed groups in Lebanon and threatened military action if attacks continued.

His remarks drew criticism from Iranian officials, who accused Washington of undermining diplomatic efforts.

Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said Tehran’s forces were prepared to respond, while signalling that Iran remained engaged in the diplomatic process.

US negotiators, including Vice President JD Vance, along with envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, held closed-door discussions with Iranian officials and mediators for roughly 80 minutes, according to Iranian state media.

Strait of Hormuz dispute

Tensions also escalated over conflicting claims regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

Iran asserted it had temporarily closed the passage over the weekend, while US officials said commercial traffic continued uninterrupted.

A senior US diplomat involved in the talks said negotiators sought clarification on Iran’s statements and discussed mechanisms to guarantee continued maritime access.

Iran’s broader position links progress in maritime security and sanctions relief to developments in Lebanon and its nuclear programme.

Nuclear programme, sanctions relief

The negotiations are also focused on Iran’s nuclear activities, with Washington seeking limits on enrichment and guarantees against weaponisation —claims Iran denies.

The emerging agreement reportedly includes provisions for temporary sanctions waivers and commitments to reduce Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, though key details remain under negotiation.

Regional stakes and political reactions

The conflict’s regional scope continues to complicate diplomacy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to maintain military pressure in southern Lebanon until Israeli security concerns are addressed, while Hezbollah has rejected any ceasefire that does not include a full Israeli withdrawal.

Meanwhile, participants described the process as a compressed 60-day effort to reach a broader settlement covering Lebanon, Iran’s nuclear programme, and maritime security in the Persian Gulf.

Despite early signs of coordination, officials on all sides acknowledged that the most contentious issues—particularly the situation in Lebanon—remain unresolved as talks proceed.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Sunday dismissed US threats and said Iranian forces were fully prepared for any response, reacting to comments by US President Donald Trump during ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Ghalibaf said US officials should be careful in their remarks and that Iran did not attach importance to American threats.

“America should think that if its threats had any effect, it would not be facing this disappointing situation today,” Ghalibaf said.

He added that Iran’s armed forces were ready for any kind of response.

The comments came after Trump took a hard line on Iran on Sunday, saying that if Tehran was not prepared to reach an agreement, the United States had various options available.

The fourth consultative meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was held in Cairo, according to a joint statement.

The foreign ministers expressed gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for sharing his vision for the future of the region, saying it would guide the efforts of the R-4 countries toward regional stability.

The statement said the ministers discussed regional and global developments in detail and stressed the importance of continuing consultations and contacts to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East and the wider region.

The ministers welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran on June 18, describing it as a constructive step toward reducing tensions and ending a conflict that posed threats to regional security, energy markets, global shipping routes, supply chains and international trade.

They also appreciated the efforts of regional and international parties that contributed to achieving reconciliation and stressed the importance of fully implementing commitments made by the parties.

The R-4 foreign ministers praised Pakistan’s role in reaching the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and acknowledged Qatar’s assistance in helping bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion. They also appreciated Pakistan’s continued coordination on the issue.

The four countries stressed the need for the early and successful completion of the next phase of negotiations and highlighted the importance of achieving a lasting, verifiable and mutually acceptable solution.

The declaration said concerns of countries in the region should be taken into account in future efforts and called for special attention to protecting the security and stability of the Gulf Arab states and the Levant region, including Syria and Lebanon.

The statement said long-term regional stability could be achieved through the promotion of collective security.

The R-4 countries reiterated that the Palestinian issue remained central to peace, security and stability in the Middle East and described it as the basis for achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

The ministers discussed the humanitarian and political situation in Gaza, the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem and reaffirmed support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The meeting emphasized the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The R-4 countries also reaffirmed their commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to restart the war with Iran even as Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials for the first talks under an interim peace ​deal, overshadowed by Tehran’s announcement it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks in the Qatari-owned mountaintop resort of Buergenstock in Switzerland were the first to be held under the terms ‌of a MoU agreed a week ago.

It calls for the strait to be reopened and a halt to all hostilities, including in Lebanon, which US ally Israel invaded in March. But Iran, arguing that Washington had failed to meet its commitment to halt fighting in Lebanon, said it had shut the strait again and that Sunday’s talks would not cover substantive issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like ​we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump said, apparently referring to Iran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, and to an escalation he ordered earlier this month.

Fox News reported that Trump had gone further in an interview, saying he ​had told Iranian officials if they closed the strait, “you won’t have a country”, and threatening to take over the waterway.

At the talks in Switzerland, where US and Iranian ⁠officials met in the presence of Qatari mediators, Vance played down the impact of violence in Lebanon, saying progress had been made towards ending hostilities there.

“These things are always a little bit messy,” he said.

Even as Trump was threatening ​Iran, Vance told reporters the US president had “asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran”.

The warring sides did not pursue a joint photo opportunity at the talks. Before Vance made his remarks, ​Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly walked into the room and embraced Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a mediator. Araqchi did not interact with Vance, who was at the back of the room.

Earlier on Sunday, Vance briefly appeared in front of travelling media ​as he, envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Warm greetings were exchanged, and Vance said, “What’s up, man?” as he shook hands with Munir and ‌hugged him. “My brother,” ⁠Munir said as he reached out to Witkoff and embraced him.

Iran cites Lebanon as reason to close Strait

Despite the announcement of a new ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, there has been scant sign of an end to fighting there. Iran said on Saturday that as a result, it had again shut the strait, whose closure for nearly four months caused the biggest disruption of global energy supplies in ​history.

US officials disputed that the strait was closed, but commercially available shipping data showed an immediate impact.

Only a single small tanker crossed the waterway with its location-signalling transponders on after Iran’s announcement, compared with dozens of ships in recent days when traffic ​had begun returning to pre-war levels.

Iran’s Fars news agency cited a military source as saying on Sunday that no new permits were being issued for ships to cross until further notice. Throughout the war, shipping firms have said it is too dangerous to ‌traverse without Iran’s ⁠permission.

Iran said there could be no start to the next phase of talks, including over its nuclear programme, until the fighting ends and it gets promised economic benefits.

Negotiations between Iran and the US, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators, are set to be held on Sunday afternoon in Switzerland as delegations from all participating countries have arrived.

According to Iranian media, the talks are scheduled for 4pm local time at the Bürgenstock Hotel on the outskirts of Zurich.

Iran’s delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while the US delegation is headed by Vice President JD Vance.

Senior Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, would also attend the discussions alongside a Qatari delegation.

Peace talks at the Swiss mountaintop resort are being held as both Iran and the US seek a durable end to their war.

The US and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire for the negotiations, but Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Saturday declared the Strait of Hormuz shut in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, although the US military said commercial vessels kept operating.

Those developments could complicate the talks in which both sides want to advance an interim deal brokered by Pakistan and signed on Wednesday by Presidents Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian to end an almost four-month-long war.

Vance arrived at the scenic ​Buergenstock resort, accessed by a narrow road snaking through leafy hills and several security checkpoints manned by armed guards, after landing at Emmen Air Base early on Sunday, accompanied by second lady Usha Vance.

Vance hopes for progress on key issues

The talks, including mediators, were to start “during the course of the morning,” Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“I ⁠think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” with a “couple days of talks” likely, Vance told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before departing.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, ​accusing Israel of “crimes” in Lebanon that violated US commitments to the ceasefire, warned ships would be at risk if they approached the strait, which carried a fifth of global oil supplies before the US and Israel launched attacks ​on February 28.

Despite the Lebanon truce, Israeli forces and the Hezbollah group attacked each other on Saturday.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the visit of the Iranian delegation is part of follow-up efforts on US commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which is linked to establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon and halting Israeli military actions there.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, marking the opening diplomatic engagement ahead of the talks.

Switzerland has previously hosted Iran-related negotiations, including nuclear talks between 2013 and 2015.

While Pakistan is serving as the primary mediator in the current process, the venue was agreed upon by all parties following the signing of a war-termination understanding between the two sides’ leaders.

The Iranian delegation, which arrived in Zurich early Sunday, was received by Swiss officials and staff from Iran’s embassy in Bern.

Alongside Ghalibaf, the delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior security official Ali Bagheri, Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin, Oil Ministry officials, and other senior foreign ministry representatives.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Baqer Qalibaf has reaffirmed his commitment to those killed in the “unprovoked American-Israeli aggression” as he arrived in Switzerland for talks on implementing a Pakistan-mediated memorandum with the US.

In a post on X, Qalibaf said he reached Zurich to pursue implementation of commitments under the agreement aimed at ending the cycle of conflict following recent hostilities.

“I regard the innocent children of Minab and all the martyrs of our beloved Iran as constant witnesses to my actions and conduct,” he said, referring to a southern Iranian city where 168 people, mostly school children, were killed in a US attack on February 28.

“They see us and have expectations of us,” he stated, adding, “God willing, I will not be ashamed before the innocent martyrs and the people of Iran.”

Qalibaf’s delegation, which has been named “Minab 168” in reference to the victims, arrived in Zurich for discussions on how to implement obligations agreed between Iran and the United States.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also part of the delegation.

Ahead of the visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the trip should not be viewed as a new round of negotiations toward a final deal, but rather as a focus on ensuring compliance with existing commitments.

He said implementation of the memorandum’s key provisions must begin before broader talks on a final agreement can proceed, adding that this stage had not yet been reached.

Baghaei also expressed concern over continued Israeli military activity in Lebanon, saying it undermined the memorandum’s first clause calling for a cessation of hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.

As a follow-up to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, technical-level talks between the US and Iran will be held in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday.

Representatives of the United States and Iran, along with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, will participate in the discussions.

Pakistan will continue to facilitate the process in its role as mediator, with a view to advancing the understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to help formally launch negotiations with Iranian officials aimed at advancing a fragile interim agreement to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme and end the war in Iran.

Iranian state media showed senior Iranian negotiators arriving in Switzerland.

Iran’s delegation is led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior economic and energy officials.

Talking to reporters before departure, Vance said he expected to stay in Switzerland for “a day or two,” expressing cautious optimism about progress on both Iran’s nuclear programme and a potential ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

He also confirmed that senior US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already present.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said negotiations toward a final agreement would proceed only if key commitments are met, warning that otherwise the memorandum of understanding could collapse.

The diplomatic push comes after Iran announced it had closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, warning that negotiations could fail if hostilities do not stop.

The move drew a sharp rebuttal from the United States, which disputed Tehran’s claim and said maritime traffic through the strategic waterway was continuing under US monitoring.

US President Donald Trump responded with a warning of potential American tolls on shipping through the Strait if a final agreement with Iran is not reached within 60 days.

He said the proposed revenue would compensate for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.”

The interim arrangement currently guarantees toll-free passage for a 60-day negotiation period.

Despite the tensions, technical-level talks are set to begin on Sunday in Switzerland, with Pakistan acting as a key mediator and Qatar also participating.

The Strait of Hormuz has again emerged as a flashpoint.

Iran’s joint military command said its closure was in response to what it called a US breach of commitments by failing to end the war.

The United States rejected that claim, with US Central Command stating that Iran does not control the waterway and that commercial shipping continues uninterrupted.

Officials said 55 merchant vessels carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil passed through the strait on Saturday.

Global markets have reacted with concern as uncertainty grows around the agreement, which has already allowed the limited resumption of Iranian oil exports and the unfreezing of billions in Iranian assets.

Negotiators from the United States and Iran were set to start peace talks in Switzerland on Sunday, even as US officials disputed Iranian claims about closing ​the key Strait of Hormuz.

High-level officials from Iran arrived in Switzerland for peace talks with the US, Iranian state media reported, as US Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings ‌that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday.

Although the US and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negotiations take place, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Saturday declared the Strait of Hormuz shut, though the US military said commercial vessels had continued operating in the waterway.

Those developments could complicate talks in which both sides seek to advance an interim deal brokered by Pakistan and signed on Wednesday by Presidents Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian to end their almost four-month war.

Hormuz, Lebanon remain flashpoints

Pointing to what it called ​Israeli “crimes” in Lebanon that violated US commitments to a ceasefire, the IRGC warned ships would be at risk if they approached the Strait, a vital conduit for global oil and gas supplies.

But US ​Central Command said 55 merchant ships transited the strait on Saturday with more than 17 million barrels of oil for global markets.

US forces will ensure commercial traffic ⁠continues, Central Command said.

Trump said no toll would be charged for passage through the strait during or after the 60-day ceasefire — unless the US imposes one should peace talks fail.

In a social media post, he cited ​the possibility of a toll levied by the United States “for services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East” if a peace deal is not completed.

Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah ​Mojtaba Khamenei, accused the US on X of failing to implement the first clause of its 14-point interim deal with Iran, which includes a ceasefire “on all fronts”, including Lebanon.

He said that, as long as the agreement was only on paper, the flow of Middle East energy would remain halted.

The Lebanon truce appeared fragile as Israeli forces and the anti-Israel group Hezbollah attacked each other.

The Iranian delegation is led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as well as senior security, central bank ​and oil officials, Iranian media said.

In addition to Vance, the US negotiating team includes envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran would press in Switzerland for fulfilment of ​commitments, citing past failures by the other side to honour agreements.

Vance, in an interview with Fox ‌News, said ⁠he was confident the ceasefire would hold and that he had seen no evidence that the Strait of Hormuz was closed.

The US vice president left for Switzerland shortly after 4pm ET on Saturday.

Negotiators would likely have a “couple days of talks“, he told reporters before boarding a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

“I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” he said.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue

A halt to fighting in Lebanon was one of the conditions for starting US-Iranian talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme and other issues.

But Lebanese Civil Defence said 20 people had been killed by ​Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Saturday, hours after a ​truce took effect there.

Israel claimed it was responding to ⁠alleged attacks, while Hezbollah said it would not allow Israel “freedom of movement” in Lebanon.

Israel says it is not a party to the Iran-US deal and will keep its forces in the Lebanese territory it occupies.

A military statement said Israel was committed to the ceasefire but would continue to act against any threat ​to Israel or its forces.

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that the prime minister and defence minister had instructed the military to hold fire in Lebanon but that ​it would not withdraw from ⁠areas it had captured.

A poll by Israel’s Hebrew University, shared with Reuters, found that some 92% of Israelis believe Iran benefited more from the joint Israeli-US military campaign than Israel, and only some 8% think Israel emerged victorious.

Almost 90% of Israelis said the goals of the war were not met, and more than 70% do not believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims that there were major achievements.

Lebanon’s state news agency NNA said Israeli warplanes and drones had struck locations ⁠across southern Lebanon ​and the Bekaa Valley on Saturday.

An Israeli military official alleged that Hezbollah fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces ​in southern Lebanon overnight and that Israel had attacked in response.

Lebanon’s health ministry says 4,057 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, including medics, women and children.

The US military on Saturday denied Iran’s ​claims that it had closed ‌the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open ​and that US forces ​were monitoring the situation to ensure ⁠that continued.

“Iran does not ​control the Strait of Hormuz,” ​US Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Reuters.

“Traffic continues to ​flow, and U.S. forces ​are monitoring the situation to ensure ‌this ⁠remains the case.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut earlier ​on Saturday ​and ⁠warned ships not to approach the waterway, casting ​new doubt on the ​future ⁠of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran ⁠meant ​to pave the ​way for in-depth peace talks.

US Vice President JD Vance said Saturday he expects to travel to Switzerland in the coming days for talks with Iran, saying negotiations were going well — minutes before Tehran announced another closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“I expect that I will leave some time the next couple of days, but, you know, it’s always a delicate coordination dance,” Vance told Fox News.

The vice president had unexpectedly postponed a planned trip two days earlier to discuss next steps on the US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the Middle East war.

Vance said US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Switzerland, handling “some of the technical elements” of the talks, and had reported that “things are going well.”

Pakistan said separately that technical talks on implementing the agreement would be held Sunday in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with Pakistani and Qatari mediators joining US and Iranian representatives.

Iranian state media said an Iranian negotiating team had left for Switzerland, after quoting foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei as warning that the agreement was “in trouble.”

The warning came as Iran said it was again closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping lanes, over renewed Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Tehran accused Washington of a “breach of contract” and Israel of violating a ceasefire in southern Lebanon, saying the strait would be closed to vessel traffic.

Iran had blockaded Hormuz for much of the war, sending shockwaves through global energy markets, but had agreed to reopen it under the preliminary deal with Washington.

The US-Iran agreement was meant to halt the wider regional conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon, where Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to trade fire despite a renewed ceasefire announced on Friday by Washington.

The Switzerland talks are intended to open a two-month negotiating period on unresolved issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to travel to Switzerland to participate in the second round of US-Iran talks, accompanied by a high-level delegation, sources said.

US Vice President JD Vance is also likely to attend.

Technical-level talks to implement the US-Iran deal ending the Middle East war are set to be held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed.

“As a follow-up to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, technical-level talks will be held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on 21 June,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that Pakistani and Qatari mediators would participate alongside US and Iranian representatives.

An Iranian negotiating team departed for Switzerland on Saturday, state news agency IRNA reported, even as Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei warned the deal was “in trouble.”

US Vice President JD Vance said he expected to travel to Switzerland within the next few days, telling Fox News: “I expect that I will leave some time the next couple of days, but you know it’s always a delicate coordination dance.”

He said US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already on the ground handling “some of the technical elements” of the talks, and had reported that “things are going well.”

Vance’s comments came minutes before Iran announced it was again closing the Strait of Hormuz — the vital oil and gas shipping lane Tehran had blockaded for much of the war — citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon as a violation of the ceasefire deal.

Iran said it was once again closing the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane on Saturday over Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, calling them a violation of its deal with the United States to end the Middle East war.

Israeli troops battled Hezbollah fighters while its warplanes conducted deadly strikes in Lebanon’s south on Saturday, hours after the United States announced a renewed ceasefire in the fighting there.

The ongoing hostilities had already strained the deal signed by US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian this week to halt the wider regional war on all fronts, including Lebanon — a key demand of Tehran’s.

Citing a US “breach of contract” and “the Zionist regime’s continuous and relentless violation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon”, Iran’s central military command announced Saturday “that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic”.

The strait, an important conduit for oil and gas shipments, was blockaded by Iran for much of the war, sending shockwaves through global energy markets.

Iran had agreed to reopen it under the preliminary agreement with the US, and shipping traffic was starting to pick back up in recent days.

Follow-up talks on the US-Iran deal had been planned in Switzerland on Friday, but were indefinitely postponed as Israel launched a wave of deadly strikes in Lebanon after four of its soldiers were killed in combat.

On Friday afternoon, a US official announced a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brokered by US and Qatari mediators, with Israel’s ambassador to Washington saying it would respect the truce if Hezbollah did.

But on Saturday an Israeli military official said it was conducting fresh attacks against the Iran-backed movement, which it accused of having “launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon” overnight.

Hezbollah said Israel had carried out “under the cover of the ceasefire… an infiltration attempt towards the Ali Taher hills”, a strategic feature overlooking the city of Nabatieh, adding its fighters “confronted them with appropriate weapons”.

Lebanese state media reported Israeli air raids on around 20 locations, with the country’s civil defence agency saying 16 people were killed in the Nabatieh area, where an AFP photographer saw smoke rising over the city after strikes.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported seven more people killed and 13 wounded in a strike on a village near the city of Sidon.

Another AFP journalist on the Israeli side of the border saw smoke billowing behind the historic Beaufort Castle, a strategic position not far from Nabatieh that Israel captured last month.

‘Right to confront’

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Saturday that his group “has the full right to confront this enemy when it attacks us”.

An Israeli military official cited by public broadcaster Kan similarly described his country’s approach to the truce as being “on the basis of fire being answered with fire”.

Israel’s US ambassador, Yechiel Leiter, maintained it was Hezbollah that broke the truce, adding: “Israel is honouring the ceasefire while defending itself against terrorist attacks, as any self-respecting country would.”

Fadi Zayat, who had fled the southern Lebanon town of Tayr Debba, told AFP that “fear dominates over everyone”.

“We returned to the village a few days ago, but our bags are ready to flee again,” the 53-year-old said. “We’re waiting for a serious decision to end the war… in order to return to our lives.”

Hezbollah pulled Lebanon into the wider Middle East conflict in early March when it fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.

A previous ceasefire meant to take effect in Lebanon in April was never honoured.

In a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed “the need for Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory to cease”, his office said.

Rubio, according to the State Department, insisted on the importance of Lebanon carrying through on its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and “re-establish control over all Lebanese territory”.

Switzerland talks

Israel and Lebanon, which have no official diplomatic ties, have held multiple rounds of US-mediated direct talks in Washington, with another scheduled next week, according to Rubio.

Meanwhile, talks that were scheduled to take place between the US and Iran in Switzerland to work towards a lasting settlement in the Middle East war were postponed Friday, with no new date announced.

Vice President JD Vance had been expected to represent the American side, but put off his trip.

Instead, US envoy Steve Witkoff headed to Switzerland to get the talks back on track, American media outlets reported, with fellow Trump emissary Jared Kushner also expected there.

In parallel, mediator Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Iran on Saturday for meetings with officials, Iranian media reported.

The talks in Switzerland were meant to kick off a two-month period of negotiations to discuss outstanding issues not covered by the initial deal, notably Iran’s nuclear programme.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry said Saturday that envoys “from various countries currently present are continuing their efforts to maintain the dialogue”, declining to offer further details.

Swiss public broadcaster RTS said technical delegations from the United States and Iran, plus Pakistan and fellow mediator Qatar, were present for the discussions.

Iran is willing to continue talks with the United States if Washington demonstrates that it is serious about honouring the agreement reached between the two sides, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran is closely monitoring US actions to assess whether it is meeting its obligations under the deal, including ensuring that Israel adheres to its terms.

Khatibzadeh said Iran was closely monitoring developments following recent Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.

He warned that Israel’s “continued war-making” would have “serious and immediate” consequences.

He added that Iran was seeking “peace on all fronts, including Gaza,” but stressed that diplomatic engagement with the United States would depend on the fulfilment of commitments under the existing agreement.

His remarks came amid renewed regional diplomatic activity following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had urged Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah after renewed exchanges of fire earlier in the day.

Speaking to NBC News, Trump said he had been in contact with Israeli officials and encouraged support for the truce, though he did not confirm whether he had spoken directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Describing the ceasefire as “a positive,” Trump said it was “a little icing on the cake,” referring to a broader US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict and enabling 60 days of technical talks.

He also commented on his relationship with Netanyahu, saying, “I’ve always been good with Bibi. You just have to calm down sometimes and use your head.”

According to CNN, Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to reinstate a ceasefire that took effect at 9am local time, following mediation efforts involving the United States and Qatar.

Sources said Iran also played a role in facilitating the agreement alongside Washington and Doha.

US President Donald Trump has credited Pakistan with “really helping” the United States secure a peace deal with Iran, which took effect this week following weeks of Pakistani-mediated talks.

In an interview with Axios, an American media outlet, Trump stated that Pakistani leaders leveraged their deep familiarity with Iranian counterparts, playing a vital role in a complex negotiation process which often involved difficult decisions by both sides.

“But they really helped us with this deal. They knew the Iranians. They knew the people. They were good,” he said while lauding Pakistani leaders.

The president was responding to a question about the world leaders in terms of their leverage.

Trump said there are different kinds of leaders in the world, naming Chinese President Xi Jinping, among others, whom he called great leaders.

“In Pakistan, you have Field Marshal (Asim) Munir, who is great, and you have the prime minister (Shehbaz Sharif), and they just get along great,” he said, continuing his reply to the question.

“The military guy,” Trump added, “totally respects the prime minister. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

The agreement has been named the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” in recognition of Pakistan’s role in facilitating negotiations through several uncertain phases since April.

In addition to helping broker the first ceasefire between Washington and Tehran on April 7, Pakistan hosted the first round of talks between the two sides on April 11.

The meeting marked the first high-level face-to-face engagement between US and Iranian officials since the 1979 Islamic Revolution severely disrupted relations between the two countries.

The conflict erupted on February 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran.

In retaliation, Tehran unleashed a barrage of strikes on its energy-rich Gulf neighbours, accusing them of facilitating the US attacks.

The conflict toppled the energy markets as oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz stalled for several months.

Under the 14-point agreement, the United States has lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, and Tehran has also allowed ships to transit through the key waterway.

Next, the two sides will hold more negotiations over 60 days to address the issue of Iran’s nuclear stockpile.

Meanwhile, Israeli aggressive actions in Lebanon continue to pose a major challenge to the follow-up negotiations.

Interior Minister Senator Mohsin Naqvi departed for Tehran on Saturday on an official visit to hold high-level talks with senior Iranian officials.

Iranian state media reported that Naqvi is expected to meet senior Iranian leadership during his trip.

Sources said he is likely to convey congratulations on the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) and discuss the next phase of cooperation.

Naqvi’s agenda in Tehran will focus on advancing and following up on negotiations between Iran and the United States, according to reports.

Pakistan has been playing an active diplomatic role as a mediator in facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington, which recently resulted in a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.

The visit comes amid a shifting diplomatic environment following the cancellation of US-Iran talks in Switzerland.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the cancellation of talks after US Vice President JD Vance postponed his planned travel to Switzerland for the negotiations.

The White House later said the United States remains hopeful that technical-level talks will begin soon.

US-Iran negotiations had been expected to address broader regional developments, but their postponement has added uncertainty to ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Emerging outlines of a deal between Washington and Tehran to end their war contain a stinging paradox: sweeteners to coax Iran into compliance may strengthen an adversarial force that the US and its Western ​allies consider a terrorist organisation.

For years, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards thrived in the shadow of sanctions, building a sprawling commercial empire stretching from oil and construction to shipping, telecommunications ‌and ports.

Now, as Tehran and Washington prepare for talks on a deal to end the war that could unlock billions of dollars for Iran and reopen its economy to global investment, the elite force is poised to be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Four senior Iranian sources described how the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was uniquely placed to capture a big chunk of any financial rewards that would accrue from sanctions relief, renewed oil exports and foreign investment.

Their central role may ​also prove to be one of the many obstacles to a deal: with the Guards so firmly enmeshed in Iranian business, their terrorism designation could significantly complicate efforts to free ​the economy from sanctions.

IRGC’s large commercial empire

Founded by Iran’s late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Guards prospered under his successor Ayatollah Ali ⁠Khamenei, gaining political power as they spearheaded efforts to project power across the Middle East and suppress dissent at home.

Since the war began on February 28 with strikes that killed Khamenei, the Guards ​have only expanded their power internally, helping to install his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader.

They have signalled support for the deal to end the war.

One of the senior sources described the ​Guards as the real winners of the war, saying that, having secured the survival of Iran’s religious system, they were best placed to benefit from any lifting of sanctions — having already run most of Iran’s sanctions-busting operations over recent decades.

A spokesperson for the Guards declined to comment.

The interim deal announced this week will allow waivers on sanctioned oil sales, while any more comprehensive agreement struck in the coming period could lift all other sanctions and ​give Iran access to a $300-billion reconstruction fund.

The IRGC does not publish financial data, but any efforts to revive the economy will expand its considerable financial reach, a second senior source said, pointing to existing ​multibillion-dollar trade networks, oil activities, shipping operations and construction businesses.

The IRGC’s engineering arm, Khatam Al Anbia, oversees hundreds of affiliated companies operating across major infrastructure and energy projects, and with involvement in telecommunications, car making, tourism and ‌logistics, according to ⁠official statements and public records.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Guards to benefit from interim deal

With Iranian investment law requiring foreign firms to partner with locals, the sheer number of IRGC-linked companies means they become gatekeepers for potential investors into Iran’s most lucrative sectors.

That reality means Western firms returning to Iran’s market could find themselves operating alongside, or through, entities linked to the IRGC even without direct engagement — at the risk of falling foul of any continued sanctions tied specifically to the Guards.

“The IRGC is the entity pulling all the strings behind the oil sector, ​so you can’t ignore all of the legal ​effects of doing business with them,” said ⁠Jeremy Paner, a former Treasury Department sanctions investigator who is now a partner at law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed.

Even as the interim deal with Washington says Iranian oil exports will be authorised, “there’s still legal exposure for US companies because of the IRGC lurking in the background”, Paner said.

The US ​Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, passed in 2016, allows victims of terrorist attacks to sue US companies for aiding groups accused of ​terrorism, such as the IRGC.

If ⁠no wider deal is reached and sanctions stay in place, the Guards will still benefit from the interim oil export waivers, and can maintain their tight grip on the economy through their experience in sanctions busting, the senior Iranian sources said.

Their economic rise was accelerated by the sanctions imposed over Iran’s nuclear programme from the early 2000s, as they built networks to facilitate oil exports, shipping and trade through intermediaries ⁠and front ​companies.

The model became harder to sustain when US President Donald Trump began a “maximum pressure” campaign after pulling the US out ​of a 2015 nuclear deal between major powers in 2018, and then expanded US sanctions further during his present term.

Those measures narrowed the room for sanctions evasion and increased the cost of running illicit networks, a third senior Iranian source said.

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were both headed to Switzerland for talks, Axios said on Friday, as a ceasefire in Lebanon appeared to revive efforts to turn an interim US-Iran war pact ​into a lasting regional deal.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday after escalating fighting cast doubt over US-Iran talks critical to reopening the Strait of Hormuz ‌and stabilising oil supplies.

That followed a 14-point memorandum that the two sides signed this week to halt fighting and open a 60-day window to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as other thorny issues needed to forge a more durable deal.

US Vice President JD Vance cancelled plans on Thursday to travel to Switzerland for the talks, however, amid rising tension in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, an anti-Israeli group backed by Iran.

With the ceasefire in place, Witkoff is heading to Switzerland to join Jared Kushner, President ​Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who is already there, Axios said. Araqchi plans to travel there on Saturday, it added.

The development may signal that both sides intend to begin technical negotiations aimed at securing a permanent ​truce.

The White House did not respond to questions about Witkoff’s travel.

A senior US official said the ceasefire took effect around 4pm in Lebanon following an ⁠exchange of fire, adding that negotiators for the United States and Qatar had worked out the agreement with help from Iran.

Two sources from Hezbollah and a senior Israeli official confirmed the ceasefire to Reuters.

“If Hezbollah does not ​attack us, then for us it is not a time of war,” the Israeli official said, adding that Israel would keep its forces in southern Lebanon, where it has occupied an area along its northern border.

Two Lebanese security ​sources said Israel had carried out a dozen air strikes in the first hour of the ceasefire but none were recorded after 5pm.

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes after midnight into Friday had killed 47 people and wounded 97, while the Israeli military said four soldiers had been killed in an incident in Lebanon, without giving further details.

The conflict in Lebanon could weigh on negotiations because ending fighting there is a condition for the broader US-Iran accord.

Tough issues still unresolved

Following Wednesday’s signing of the memorandum of understanding, preparations ​for technical talks at the Swiss mountaintop resort of Buergenstock were well advanced when the White House said on Thursday that Vance would not attend.

The Swiss foreign ministry said the talks had been postponed, but Switzerland stood ready ​to facilitate them, and preparatory work was continuing.

The broad interim deal requires the United States, Iran and their allies to declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Israel, left out of the talks, says ‌it is ⁠not a party to the deal.

Araqchi, in a telephone call with his Pakistani counterpart on Friday, said the United States would be responsible for any violation of its commitments under the deal, including ending the fighting in Lebanon, his ministry said.

Israel-Lebanon talks

Lebanon was sucked into the regional war when Hezbollah opened fire at Israel on March 2, prompting it to launch an offensive against the group and invade the south of the country.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the latest Israeli attacks but said the escalation would not hinder efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire.

The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Aoun and reiterated the need to disarm ​Hezbollah, while reaffirming US support for a “fully sovereign” Lebanese state.

It ​said they also discussed holding a next round ⁠of Israel-Lebanon negotiations in Washington from June 23 to June 25.

The Lebanese presidency said a comprehensive ceasefire was a fundamental pillar for these talks.

Trump defends deal

The Iran war, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli air attacks on Iran, has killed at least 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.

It also ​pushed up energy prices, stoking inflation worldwide.

Brent crude ticked higher on Friday, but was set for a weekly fall of about 8% after the Lebanon ceasefire, and oil ​shipments through the Strait of ⁠Hormuz picked up after the signing of this week’s deal.

The strait carried nearly a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before it was blockaded by Iran during the war.

The body set up by Iran to manage the strait said on Friday it would waive planned fees during the interim deal’s negotiation period.

The MoU foresees relief for Iran from economic sanctions, the unfreezing of assets worth tens of billions of dollars and immediate US waivers for its exports ⁠of oil.

It ​also provides for a $300-billion reconstruction fund for Iran and other financial incentives.

Trump again defended the deal after criticism in Washington, including some ​from Republican allies in Congress who question whether he conceded too much to end a war unpopular with most Americans ahead of midterm elections in November.

“The War has diminished Iran!” he wrote on social media on Friday, adding, “We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They ​are FINISHED! We’ll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not 10 cents!”

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz rose to its busiest level in two months after a deal to halt the US-Iran war, maritime trackers said on Friday.

A total of 25 commercial vessels crossed the newly reopened strait on Thursday, the highest number since mid-April, according to data from tracking firm AXSMarine — more than three times the average of just over seven a day since early March.

In a sign of traffic picking up in the region, empty trucks queued for up to three kilometres (two miles) outside the UAE port of Korfakkan just south of the strait, as at least four container ships unloaded there, an eyewitness told AFP.

Other ships could be seen on the hazy horizon, apparently waiting their turn to dock and unload, the eyewitness said, requesting anonymity.

The spike came after Iran and the United States agreed this week to reopen the crucial route under an agreement to end the war, but before the postponement of talks between the sides in Switzerland that had been planned for Friday under that deal.

The number of crossings on Thursday may be higher, as some ships turned off or manipulated their AIS transponder signals to avoid detection, AXSMarine said in a news release.

Iranian forces effectively closed off the strait after US and Israeli strikes sparked the war on February 28. Maritime authorities reported dozens of attacks on ships in the area.

Sea mine warning

Global shipping groups warned this week that plans to resume traffic through the strait were still not clear, and it was not thought safe to start exiting the Gulf.

The Pakistani navy published an alert on Friday, warning that a mine had been sighted in the strait off Oman.

“All vessels transiting through the area are advised to navigate with extreme caution,” it said.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority on Friday published new rules for transits during the 60-day period covered by the war agreement.

In a post on X, it said all ships seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz should submit a transit request “48 hours in advance”.

It said it would waive payments of “tariffs” and “Iranian insurances” for ships passing during the 60 days.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chief Arsenio Dominguez said in April that the body was working on a plan to ensure safe transit for ships out of the Gulf.

Oil market impact

More than 500 commercial vessels and about 11,000 seafarers are still stuck in the Gulf, according to the IMO. It says 20,000 seafarers in the region have been affected by the war overall.

The agreement to stop the war this week was also meant to halt fighting in Lebanon but Israel’s military on Friday announced new strikes there.

A US official later said Israel and Iran-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire.

The closure of the strait during the war drove up global oil prices and choked off shipments of energy and crucial commodities such as fertiliser.

Following the Iran-US agreement announced on June 14, “the first sign of relief came this week with fast falling prices”, said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at banking group Swissquote.

“Energy and transport sectors will be the first to feel the relief, before it spills toward the rest of the economy,” she told AFP.

But given the risk of renewed fighting in Lebanon, she added, “questions remain regarding the US ability to end the war”.

Fighting flared anew in Lebanon on Friday, with authorities reporting 47 killed in Israeli airstrikes and Israel announcing the deaths of four of its soldiers.

The violence is the worst since the sealing of a US-Iran deal to halt the wider Middle East war, which was also supposed to pause fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) also reported a fresh Israeli strike on the area of Jezzine in the south, soon after a US official said on Friday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed on a ceasefire.

An NNA journalist had also reported drones flying over the Tyre area, while an AFP correspondent heard continuous artillery shelling in the southern town of Nabatieh.

The US official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the truce was brokered by US and Qatari mediators, following talks with Israel and Iran.

A Gulf diplomat later confirmed the ceasefire was brokered by Qatar, the US and Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not respond to an AFP request to confirm the ceasefire.

Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said: “Everything related to agreements belongs to the political echelon… We will continue to operate according to the directives”.

An earlier truce meant to have taken effect in April did little to stop attacks from either side.

‘Dangerous escalation’

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli airstrikes and bombardments killed at least 47 people — including seven women and two children — and wounded 97 others in Lebanon on Friday.

Video from AFPTV showed hundreds of cars packing roads in the city of Sidon as people attempted to flee southern areas.

Israel’s military reported “more than 150 IDF (military) strikes in Lebanon since midnight”.

It said earlier it had “struck more than 80 command centres, terrorists, launch positions and additional terrorist infrastructure sites in the area of Nabatieh and additional areas in southern Lebanon”.

“Dozens of Hezbollah terrorists operating in the command centres were eliminated.”

Iran-backed Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it was attacking Israeli forces around Nabatieh.

Israeli strikes also targeted the Baalbek region in the east of Lebanon, which had been largely spared since the start of the conflict in March.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israel’s latest attacks “constitute a dangerous escalation”.

Earlier, the Israeli military said Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon had “fallen in combat” along with three other soldiers.

Israeli military correspondents reported the four were killed when a tank was hit by “a suspected drone or anti-tank missile”.

The military also reported that a reserve officer was severely wounded by a drone attack, with four other soldiers lightly injured.

‘Mothers must weep’

The deaths of the soldiers drew a furious reaction in Israel.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said “Lebanon must burn… For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, 1,000 Lebanese mothers must weep”.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of wanting “permanent war”.

US officials including President Donald Trump have expressed frustration at Israel’s campaign in Lebanon.

But Netanyahu said on Friday that Israeli troops will stay in south Lebanon “as long as necessary”.

Hassan Tarhini, 57, forced to flee the Nabatieh area, told AFP that “we have no problem being displaced once, twice or even 10 times, so long as we return with our heads held high”.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in early March by attacking Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.

Israel responded with a massive campaign of airstrikes and a ground invasion.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and congratulated the Iranian government and people on the signing of the memorandum of understanding under the recently concluded peace process.

During the conversation, Dar conveyed his best wishes for the next phase of negotiations and expressed hope that the process would move forward without obstacles and yield positive results.

“We hope the process progresses smoothly and leads to constructive outcomes,” Dar said, according to official sources.

Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its constructive role in facilitating dialogue and acknowledged Islamabad’s efforts in supporting the peace process.

The Iranian foreign minister also expressed gratitude to Dar for assistance in the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals.

The two leaders agreed to maintain close contact and continue coordination on matters of mutual interest as diplomatic engagement moves forward.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation on Friday, during which they welcomed the successful conclusion of the Islamabad Peace Accord between Iran and the United States and reaffirmed support for the next phase of negotiations.

According to official sources, PM Shehbaz congratulated the Saudi crown prince on the landmark agreement and thanked Saudi Arabia for its consistent support of efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.

The prime minister said Saudi Arabia’s support had played an important role in facilitating the Iran-US agreement and appreciated Riyadh’s constructive contribution to the peace process.

During the conversation, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated PM Shehbaz on the successful completion of the peace accord.

He also described the role of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as a key factor in securing the agreement.

The two leaders expressed optimism about the next phase of negotiations between Iran and the United States and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region.

Israel and Hezbollah have ​agreed to a ‌ceasefire set to begin at 4 ​pm local time ​on Friday, a senior ⁠US official ​told Reuters.

“Hezbollah and ​Israel have agreed to a ceasefire,” the official ​said on ​background, adding that negotiators for ‌the ⁠US and Qataris worked out the deal with ​help from ​Iran.

“We ⁠understand that after the ​exchange of fire ​earlier ⁠today, Israel and Hezbollah are ⁠now ​in a ​ceasefire.”

The intensification of violence in Lebanon strained the US-Iranian interim agreement signed on Wednesday to end ​the wider war in the Middle East.

A Hezbollah lawmaker ​earlier told Reuters that Iran had informed the group that talks with ‌Washington ⁠could not continue without the implementation of a comprehensive ceasefire.

Overnight, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 people in Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry reported, while four Israeli soldiers were ​killed in south ​Lebanon in ⁠one of the deadliest attacks by Hezbollah during this war.

The Iran deal requires the United ​States, Iran, and their allies to declare an immediate ​and ⁠permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Violence abated significantly earlier this week, but has since picked up.

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on Friday that “all of Lebanon must burn” after Israel’s military announced the deaths of four soldiers there.

The Israeli losses were the first to be announced since a US-Iran deal was signed to end the Middle East war.

The agreement was also supposed to halt the fighting between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Washington has expressed frustration at Israel’s ongoing campaign there.

“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben Gvir said in a statement.

“For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep,” he added.

“In the Near East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint.”

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel must “go wild. Eradicate. Defeat terrorism.”

“We must let fire speak… and open the gates of hell,” he added, without explicitly mentioning Lebanon.

The US-Iran agreement has been widely perceived in Israel as detrimental to its interests, signalling a failure by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to force US President Donald Trump to take account of Israeli security demands.

Netanyahu is under pressure ahead of elections due to be held by the end of October.

According to a poll published Friday by the newspaper Maariv, 63 percent of Israelis are “worried” about the future of Israel following the deal.

Avigdor Lieberman, head of the nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu opposition party, called on Friday for a “heavy price” to be exacted in Lebanon “from which the other side will never recover”.

If Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, “are still standing, this is a direct failure of the prime minister and the defence minister”, he wrote on X.

Israeli troops will stay in Lebanon “as long as necessary”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, vowing to make Iran-backed Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” for its attacks.

“Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” Netanyahu said in a statement after the military announced the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. “Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary for the protection of the communities of the north.”

Defence Minister Israel Katz had also said the military would stay in Lebanon, adding it would respond “with considerable force” to any attack.