Amid renewed tensions in West Asia and growing concerns over the stability of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, US President Donald Trump has sent special envoy Steve Witkoff to Switzerland for fresh peace talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
The move comes at a critical moment after fresh Israeli strikes in Lebanon reportedly killed at least five people, threatening the already fragile ceasefire and raising fears of another escalation in the conflict.
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz over ceasefire violations
Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to vessel traffic, citing alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement by the US and Israel, Reuters reported.
It said that the closure was the “first step” in response to what it described as breaches of commitments and warned that further measures would be taken if “aggression” continued.
US restarts diplomatic push with Iran
Witkoff is reportedly set to meet Araqchi in Switzerland as part of renewed negotiations aimed at converting temporary ceasefire arrangements into a permanent peace framework.
The movement of Trump’s diplomatic team suggests that both Washington and Tehran are willing to restart technical negotiations after earlier rounds of talks were reportedly cancelled. The White House, however, has not officially commented on Witkoff’s travel plans.
Trump urges Israel to maintain ceasefire
In a significant development, Trump reportedly urged Benjamin Netanyahu to maintain the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said he had instructed Israel to stay committed to the truce, saying, “You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head.”
The comments suggest Washington is trying to prevent fresh hostilities from derailing broader diplomatic efforts currently underway in the region.
US intelligence concerned over Netanyahu’s next move
The diplomatic urgency comes after The Washington Post reported that US intelligence officials are concerned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu could undermine the emerging US-Iran peace efforts by continuing military operations in Lebanon.
According to the report, American intelligence agencies believe Netanyahu’s domestic political future may be closely linked to projecting a hardline security stance and avoiding any perception of military withdrawal. Officials reportedly fear this could complicate efforts to secure a long-term peace agreement in the region.
Switzerland becomes centre of high-stakes talks
As part of the diplomatic effort, Axios reported that Witkoff is travelling to Switzerland, where Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, is already present. Araqchi is also expected to arrive on Saturday for the talks.
In another development, US Vice President JD Vance reportedly cancelled his own Switzerland visit amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Fresh Israeli strikes keep region on edge
Even as diplomatic efforts intensify, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Israeli strikes in Lebanon reportedly killed five people, raising fresh concerns over whether the ceasefire can survive.