Israeli airstrikes that killed nearly a dozen people in Lebanon have threatened to derail a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah struck merely 24 hours earlier.
US envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly traveling to Switzerland for technical talks with Iran. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is already in Switzerland and is expected to join Witkoff as renewed efforts to cement a deal began, Axios reported. Witkoff's trip is aimed to pave the way for talks to clinch a final deal that could end the uncertainty.
Pakistan's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi also arrived in Iran for talks with senior Iranian officials. Naqvi will hold talks with his counterpart Eskandar Momeni, as well as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, local media reports said.
The initial strikes also resulted in postponement of the talks between Iran and the US scheduled in Switzerland, with US Vice President J D Vance's planned trip put off.
Vance later took aim at Israel over discontent with the memorandum of understanding. Vance appeared to make reference to public criticism made by firebrand cabinet officials Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
A report by Lebanese state news agency said at least 11 people have been killed after strikes by Israeli warplanes, drones, and artillery aimed at regions in Nabatieh.
The Israeli military strikes on Hezbollah targets were reportedly spurred by the Iran-backed group's firing targeting Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon, BBC reported.
The US has flayed Israeli strikes that threatens to usurp a fragile ceasefire brokered on June 14 after a protracted conflict that engulfed the Middle East and sent oil prices and inflationary concerns soaring across the globe.
The US-Iran peace deal, signed at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday by President Donald Trump, reportedly has a commitment to end fighting on "all fronts" including Lebanon. Iran has repeatedly cited this, while confused signals have been emanating from Israel on honoring this.
The IDF has vowed to "continue to remove immediate threats" in Lebanon. Pressure is mounting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to proceed with the military action against Hezbollah, though the US is furious at it for the latest strikes.
Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased this week after the United States and Iran implemented an agreement that reopened one of the world's most important energy corridors.
Iran has dismissed reports that it had once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that commercial shipping through the strategic waterway remains operational.
President Donald Trump has warned that a newly signed agreement between the US and Iran is 'not a final deal', despite formally endorsing a 14-point memorandum intended to end four months of conflict between the two countries.
