June 20, 2026, 1:55 p.mJune 20, 2026, 4:52 p.m
On the Bürgenstock NW, diplomats are currently trying to make negotiations between the USA and Iran possible. But new fighting in Lebanon is endangering the planned talks.
Switzerland offers diplomats from several countries at the Bürgenstock a “discrete and reliable framework” to maintain dialogue, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) announced on Saturday. The FDFA did not provide any information about the diplomats present.
Witkoff and Kushner have apparently arrived in Switzerland
United States Vice President JD Vance has confirmed that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Switzerland for talks with the Iranian delegation.
“Jared and Steve have been on site for several hours and are dealing with some of the technical aspects of these negotiations,” Vance told Fox News. The vice president added that he also expected to leave for Switzerland “within the next two days.”
When asked when talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland could actually begin, Vance replied: “It could be tomorrow, but such things always evolve a little.”
Pakistan: Talks on Sunday
According to the mediating state Pakistan, the talks will take place on Sunday. These would be held at a technical level in Bürgenstock, according to a statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in the afternoon.
Representatives of the United States, Iran and mediators Pakistan and Qatar would take part in the talks, it said. Islamabad will continue to support the process as a mediator to deepen the understandings reached in the framework agreement.
A first round of talks scheduled for Friday did not take place because of attacks between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Discussions were actually supposed to take place here on Friday.Image: keystone
Washington and Tehran had previously signed a framework agreement at Versailles that provides for an end to hostilities in the region. Further negotiations on contentious issues such as Iran’s nuclear program should follow within 60 days.
Pakistan is mediating in Iran
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also traveled to Iran to discuss the continuation of the negotiations. Meetings were planned there with the President of the Iranian Parliament Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
At the same time, the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, warned Foreign Minister Araghchi against a meeting with US envoy Witkoff. The reason was a violation of a memorandum, the first article of which called for a cessation of fighting on all fronts.
This point was violated by Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon. Any continuation of the talks would be a “serious mistake”. Negotiators should not only suspend the talks, but also close the Strait of Hormuz.
Violent attacks in southern Lebanon
Despite the agreed ceasefire, Lebanese media continued to report numerous Israeli air strikes on Saturday, leaving at least 28 dead. The Lebanese Civil Defense said 16 bodies had been recovered in the city of Nabatija alone.
At least seven people were killed in an attack on the city of Qennarit, according to the Ministry of Health. There were further deaths in attacks on Arabsalim and in the Tire area. According to the Lebanese army, a military member also died. The army accused Israel of using the attacks to prevent any solution to restore stability.
Mutual blame
The Israeli army and Hezbollah blamed each other for the fighting. The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of firing more than 50 projectiles at soldiers during the night. Rocket sites, weapons depots and militia command centers were then attacked. We will continue to take action against any threat in the future.
Hezbollah, however, said it had responded to an advance by Israeli troops. They are sticking to the ceasefire, but will oppose any attempt to conquer further land. According to a US government official, the ceasefire has been in effect since Friday 4 p.m. local time. It was broken several times just a few minutes after it came into force. (sda/dpa/adnkronos)