US envoy Steve Witkopf arrived in Switzerland, as part of preparations for the resumption of the expected US-Iranian talks in the Bürgenstock resort, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to overcome the obstacles that prevented them from starting on time.
An American official said that Witkopf has already arrived in Switzerland, while Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, is expected to join him to participate in the upcoming technical talks with the Iranian side.
On the other hand, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that diplomats from various countries are continuing their efforts in Bürgenstock to facilitate dialogue between the parties concerned, stressing its commitment to the principle of confidentiality and not revealing the identity of the participants or the details of the ongoing discussions.
These moves coincide with the visit of Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Tehran, as part of mediation led by Islamabad to encourage the Iranian side not to postpone its participation in the negotiations.
According to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath information, the Pakistani official carries messages calling on Tehran to continue the talks without delay, after the Iranian delegation expressed a desire to postpone heading to Switzerland until after the Ashura ceremony.
The data indicated that Lebanon has become one of the most prominent points of contention in the negotiations, in light of Tehran’s adherence to stopping the war on all fronts, including the Lebanese arena, as a basic condition for the continuation of the negotiating path.
According to the same information, the Iranian delegation threatened to withdraw from the talks if Israel continued its attacks in Lebanon, while the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the postponement of the delegation’s travel was aimed at verifying the United States’ commitment to implementing the agreed upon terms, especially with regard to stopping military operations.
This comes at a time when Israeli raids on Lebanese areas continue, despite the announcement of a ceasefire agreement that entered into force yesterday, amid an exchange of accusations between Israel and Hezbollah regarding responsibility for violating the truce.
