Washington/Bern, 20 June (H.S.): Diplomatic efforts surrounding a potential nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran have intensified following the conclusion of a 108-day conflict in West Asia. US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Switzerland, while Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is already in the country.

According to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, citing news website Axios, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected to arrive in Switzerland later today. However, the start of the negotiations had earlier been delayed due to the continuing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Following the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday, hopes have risen that the US-Iran negotiations will now gather momentum. Sources said Tehran has made it clear that a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon is a crucial prerequisite for the diplomatic process and could determine the success or failure of the negotiations.

It may be recalled that a 14-point memorandum signed by both sides at the Palace of Versailles in Paris on June 18 was intended to halt hostilities and provide a 60-day window to resolve disputes over Iran's nuclear programme and other complex issues in pursuit of a more durable agreement. During this period, negotiations are expected to focus on Iran's nuclear programme, regional security, and energy supplies.

According to US officials, the United States, Qatar, and Iran played significant roles in facilitating the Lebanon ceasefire. With the ceasefire now in effect, preparations are underway to resume technical-level negotiations. Israel, which has been excluded from the talks, has stated that it is not a party to the proposed agreement.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart during a telephone conversation on Friday that the United States would be held responsible for any violation of the commitments outlined in the agreement, including ending the fighting in Lebanon.

Lebanon was drawn into the wider regional conflict after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to begin military operations against the group and send ground forces into southern Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's recent attacks but said the renewed escalation would not obstruct efforts to achieve a broader ceasefire.

The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President Aoun and stressed the need to disarm Hezbollah while reaffirming Washington's support for a fully sovereign Lebanese state. The two leaders also discussed hosting the next round of Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington from June 23 to 25. Lebanon's presidency said a comprehensive ceasefire remains the fundamental basis for those negotiations.

The war, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran, has claimed at least 7,000 lives, most of them in Iran and Lebanon. The conflict also drove up global energy prices, contributing to higher inflation worldwide.

Brent crude prices edged higher on Friday but still recorded an overall weekly decline of nearly eight per cent following the Lebanon ceasefire. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz also accelerated after the agreement was signed earlier this week.

Before the blockade imposed by Iran during the conflict, nearly one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian authority responsible for administering the strategic waterway announced on Friday that it would waive transit fees agreed upon during the interim negotiations.

The proposed agreement reportedly provides Iran with partial relief from economic sanctions, the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets, and immediate US waivers allowing oil exports. It also includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, along with additional financial incentives.

The proposed interim agreement is also said to include provisions for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stabilising global oil supplies, easing selected economic sanctions on Iran, and halting regional military activities.

However, the proposed deal continues to face political opposition in the United States. Some of President Trump's Republican allies have expressed concern that the administration is offering excessive concessions to Iran. Trump, meanwhile, defended the agreement, arguing that the war had significantly weakened Iran and that the United States was negotiating from a position of strength rather than under pressure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar