Steve Witkoff is on his way to Switzerland, where Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is already waiting. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi is expected to arrive on June 21.
The trip follows a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah dated June 20. It took effect at 4 pm local time, after talks run by US and Qatari representatives, according to reports. It came on the heels of a 14-point memorandum meant to settle questions around Iran’s nuclear programme and other disputes over a 60-day period.
The quiet was not complete. Israeli military sources said airstrikes landed shortly after the truce began, and Lebanese security agencies reported heavy casualties from them. Israeli officials back the ceasefire but intend to keep troops in southern Lebanon, and say operations will go on if they are provoked again.
That matters in Switzerland. The recent fighting had cast doubt on US-Iran talks that are key to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and steadying oil supplies, and any permanent deal depends on the shooting stopping.
Vice President JD Vance had planned to attend but cancelled as tensions in the region rose. The White House has not officially commented on Witkoff’s travel. The Swiss Foreign Ministry has said it is ready to help host the talks, and preparations were reportedly under way at the mountaintop resort of Buergenstock.
What is riding on the talks
The Iran war, which flared again on February 28, has killed an estimated 7,000 people or more, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. It has also disrupted energy markets and fed global inflation. Brent crude rose slightly after the ceasefire news but was still expected to fall over the week.
The Strait of Hormuz is on the Swiss agenda because so much of the world’s oil and gas moves through it. Iran has signalled it will waive certain fees while the interim agreement is negotiated. Officials are also discussing economic relief for Iran, along with substantial financial support for reconstruction.
