Intl desk: At least five people have been killed in separate Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon, despite progress in Iran-United States talks.
Pakistan’s top diplomat holds talks with Swiss counterpart amid reports a tentative deal between Tehran and Washington could be signed as soon as Sunday, with Geneva seen as the likeliest venue.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says a memorandum of understanding with the US to end the war “has never been closer”, with US President Donald Trump resharing the statement on his Truth Social platform.
Shehbaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan, which has mediated talks between Tehran and Washington, said the “final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached”, adding “next steps” still need to be finalised.
It was reported earlier that one person was killed in Maarakeh in the Tyre district, and the Rihan municipality’s mayor was killed in the Jezzine district.
Two more people have since been reported killed after an Israeli air raid on Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh district. The attack also destroyed a residential building.
At least two Palestinians have been killed and 11 injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
Israel has killed 983 people and injured 3,122 others since the announcement of the “ceasefire” in October last year, the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.
The total number of people killed in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has reached 72,993 since October 7, 2023, the ministry added, with 173,230 others injured.
However, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has spoken with his Swiss counterpart, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, after Switzerland earlier proposed to host the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.
Islamabad has been the chief mediator in the US-Iran talks to end the war.
In a conversation with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Dar welcomed the “encouraging progress towards an understanding between the United States and Iran”.
The leaders “expressed hope that ongoing efforts would soon contribute to peace and stability in the region. Both sides agreed to remain in close contact,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said.
Source: Al Jazeera
