{"id":169304,"date":"2026-06-20T16:03:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T16:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/169304\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T16:03:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T16:03:26","slug":"us-iran-talks-to-take-place-in-switzerland-as-tehran-closes-strait-of-hormuz-over-lebanon-fighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/169304\/","title":{"rendered":"US-Iran talks to take place in Switzerland as Tehran closes Strait of Hormuz over Lebanon fighting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz as Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 16 people on Saturday, hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect<\/a>, with Israel saying it was responding to projectiles fired by the Iran-backed group.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s joint military command said the strait had been closed, citing the Israeli attacks and US \u201cbad faith\u201d and \u201cclear breach of its commitments\u201d by failing to end the war.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Its statement on state television warned that \u201cif the aggression continues, subsequent steps have been planned\u201d.<\/p>\n

It comes as key mediator Pakistan confirms technical-level talks between the US and Iran will begin on Sunday in Switzerland, two days later than originally planned.<\/p>\n

\"JD<\/p>\n

JD Vance is expected to travel to Switzerland for talks with Iran. (Reuters: Eric Lee)<\/p>\n

US Vice-President JD Vance said he expected to go to Switzerland “soon” for those talks, while Iran’s foreign ministry said its negotiators would leave for Switzerland later on Saturday local time.<\/p>\n

The vice-president said US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had already been in Switzerland “for a few hours, dealing with some of the technical elements of this negotiation”.<\/p>\n

“My understanding, talking to Jared and Steve this morning, is things are going well,” he told Fox News.<\/p>\n

But Tehran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bagahei signalled that little might happen until Iran felt the US was living up to the deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis trip is therefore about demanding that the other side fulfil its obligations,\u201d he said, adding that negotiations towards a final agreement would begin only once key commitments were upheld.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If they were not, he said, \u201cthen the memorandum of understanding as a whole will be jeopardised\u201d.<\/p>\n

Fighting in Lebanon continues<\/p>\n

Lebanon’s state news agency NNA said Israeli warplanes and drones hit multiple locations in the south and the Bekaa Valley.<\/p>\n

A statement from Lebanon’s civil defence agency said 16 people had been killed.<\/p>\n

An Israeli military official said Hezbollah fired more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon overnight, prompting strikes on what the official said were “Hezbollah targets”.<\/p>\n

A diabolical Iran deal reveals Trump’s delusions<\/a><\/p>\n

Just as Netanyahu’s claims to be able to influence Trump have now become a burden to him, Trump’s limited capacity to influence Netanyahu spells just as much trouble for peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Hezbollah said it remained committed to the ceasefire but would respond to any attempt by Israel to seize territory or expand its occupation, adding that its fighters remained fully prepared to defend Lebanese territory.<\/p>\n

The group said Israeli forces attempted overnight to infiltrate the Ali al-Taher hill area in southern Lebanon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It said its fighters engaged the forces, after which Israel carried out air strikes inside and outside the operational area.<\/p>\n

A senior Hezbollah official told Reuters the group would not allow Israel “freedom of movement” in what it called occupied Lebanese territory, adding that resistance remained legitimate while Israeli forces remained in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The violence highlights the fragility of a truce intended to halt months of escalating violence, and of an interim peace deal between the US and Iran<\/a> that hinges in part on an end to the conflict in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

Deadly strikes<\/p>\n

One of the deadliest Israeli strikes on Saturday hit a three-storey residential building in the southern town of Barish in the Tyre district, killing a father, mother and their two children, a local village official told reporters.<\/p>\n

The Lebanese army said an Israeli strike killed a soldier on the Kfarrumman-Nabatieh road and accused Israel of undermining efforts to restore stability.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A damaged car at the site of an Israeli air strike on a house in Barish, Lebanon. (Reuters: Zohra Bensemra)<\/p>\n

Plumes of smoke rose into the sky over southern Lebanon on Saturday and Israeli jets flew low over the coastal city of Tyre.<\/p>\n

The city’s residents told The Associated Press they were relieved that Tyre had been spared in recent days but the sounds of Israeli planes reminded them the war is not over.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Many doubted a ceasefire \u2014 even if agreed on \u2014 would hold.<\/p>\n

“Our entire lives would change if there’s a ceasefire,” said Hussein Khoshman, a Tyre resident.<\/p>\n

Israel’s Arabic-language military spokesperson said calm could be achieved if Hezbollah halted what she described as hostile activity and violations of agreements, adding Israel’s presence in a security zone aimed to remove threats and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure, not harm civilians.<\/p>\n

The ceasefire was agreed on Friday after a sharp escalation in hostilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vance did something Washington never does<\/a><\/p>\n

The US vice-president takes public aim at Israel with a series of comments Washington watchers say are “unprecedented”.<\/p>\n

Lebanon’s health ministry says 3,912 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, including medics, women and children.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Israeli authorities say at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in the latest hostilities.<\/p>\n

The US-Iran understanding announced this week calls for an immediate, permanent end to military operations by the parties and their allies across multiple fronts, including Lebanon.<\/p>\n

Israel, which was not part of those negotiations, has opposed provisions it says could constrain its campaign in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

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