Iran's FM: Lebanon at the center of Switzerland negotiations

Body recovered from rubble in Nabatieh

A team from the al-Rissala rescuers (Amal) said they have recovered a body from the rubble of a building in the city of Nabatieh Fawqa.

The body of the person, killed in an Israeli bombardment, was transported to al-Najda al-Shaabiya hospital in the city, according to our correspondent.

Strait of Hormuz remains closed, Iranian military source says, reports Fars

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to a military source cited by Iran’s Fars news agency.

The navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has not granted any authorization for vessels to transit through the strait until further notice, the same source said.

Iran’s FM Spox says Lebanon cease-fire will be central in Switzerland talks with US – IRNA

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that today’s meeting in Switzerland is a continuation of the implementation phase of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, according to IRNA.

He added that the United States has been unable to ensure a cease-fire in Lebanon, stressing that this issue will be central to the discussions taking place in Switzerland.

Pakistani mediators arrive in Switzerland for US-Iran talks

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the head of the military, Asim Munir, arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for talks over the Middle East war, Sharif's office said.

"Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will participate in the High-Level Talks on the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," the Prime Minister's Office wrote on X, referring to the U.S.-Iran deal to end the war.

Hezbollah to hold mass funerals for fighters killed in south Lebanon

Funerals are expected to be held for around t20 Hezbollah fighters in the Sour area. The group is set to bury 22 of its members killed during the fighting in south Lebanon.

Calm extends to strategic Ali Taher heights after intense fighting

No military activity has been reported around the Ali Taher heights, south of Nabatieh. The calm in south Lebanon extends to the axis leading to the hill, which had been the main battlefield in recent weeks. The situation on the ground appears frozen.

Israel has been seeking to capture the hill, accusing Hezbollah of maintaining major military infrastructure, weapons stockpiles, and underground networks there. The heights overlook the surrounding area, giving them strategic importance.

On Saturday, before the cessation of hostilities, intense fighting took place along this axis, while Israeli aircraft heavily struck the Rihan heights in the Jezzine district, considered support positions for the defense of Ali Taher.

First prolonged lull in 110 days as strikes halt in south Lebanon

Calm prevails in south Lebanon, where no Israeli attack has been reported since 4 p.m. on Saturday. For the first time since the war began 110 days ago, the situation is quiet.

Since yesterday afternoon, no airstrikes, artillery shelling, or major violations have been reported. Only a few drones have been seen flying at high altitude over some southern localities.

Residents remain cautious, however, fearing a possible resumption of Israeli attacks. Saturday’s escalation killed between 40 and 45 people, according to a provisional toll. The city of Nabatieh and several villages have urged displaced residents not to rush back home.

Up until 4 p.m. Saturday, the south had been hit by 97 strikes targeting 42 villages, mainly in and around Nabatiyeh, as well as the Rihan heights in Jezzine. Hezbollah, for its part, did not claim any military operations during that period.

JD Vance: Lebanon cease-fire and Iran nuclear talks take priority in Switzerland

The cease-fire in Lebanon and Iran’s nuclear program are at the heart of the talks in Switzerland.

JD Vance said the discussions are expected to last “a few days,” adding that he would only be able to stay in Switzerland “for a day or two.”

“I hope we will make progress on the nuclear issue and on the ceasefire in Lebanon. These are the two main points we will focus on,” he told reporters.

The talks are taking place at a luxury hotel in Burgenstock, overlooking Lake Lucerne. Preparatory discussions began on Saturday, according to Swiss authorities, while Tehran confirmed “technical” talks between Iranian and U.S. officials on Sunday.

US–Iran talks open in Switzerland despite early tensions

Talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland.

The negotiations, aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, come four days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding already under strain.

They are expected to last 60 days and focus on Iran’s nuclear program. Even before starting, obstacles have emerged, including continued fighting in Lebanon despite a clause calling for a comprehensive cease-fire, and Iran’s announcement of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response.

JD Vance arrived early Sunday morning at Emmen air base near Lucerne, according to his spokesperson. The Iranian delegation arrived Saturday evening and includes Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Abdolnaser Hemmati.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose mediation helped secure the June 17 agreement, is also on his way to Switzerland.

Fragile calm in Lebanon as high-stakes talks resume in Switzerland

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of developments in Lebanon and the Middle East, as U.S.–Iran talks are set to resume this Sunday in Switzerland.

This diplomatic step comes alongside a fragile calm on the ground in south Lebanon, where no attacks have been reported since Saturday evening.

Tehran has conditioned the launch of the 60-day negotiations with Washington on a total ceasefire across the Middle East, including the Lebanese front. After two days of Israeli escalation in south Lebanon and the Bekaa since Friday, Iran announced Saturday it would close the Strait of Hormuz.

Emergency session on Lebanon added to Switzerland talks agenda

According to CBS News, the negotiations in Switzerland will open with an “emergency session” on the conflict in Lebanon. This session was added to the agenda due to the continuation of Israeli strikes in recent days, which had initially delayed the talks, as Tehran refused to participate without a comprehensive regional cease-fire.