Iran live updates: Special Envoy Witkoff en route to Switzerland, US official says

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal. Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations concluded.

On Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran had reached a "great deal." The memorandum of understanding was read to reporters on Wednesday, and the U.S. and Iranian presidents signed it that day, a White House official said.

Death toll rises to 16 in new Israeli strikes on Lebanon

The Lebanese Civil Defense said Saturday morning that at least 16 people have been killed in a mixture of airstrikes, drone strikes and artillery shelling that has been hitting Lebanon, with at least 12 more injured.

"Civil defense elements continue to carry out their humanitarian and relief missions in response to the calls of citizens, despite difficult field conditions and challenges," Lebanese authorities said.

The Lebanese Civil Defense added that at least 47 others were evacuated from the area.

The IDF has not yet commented on the alleged strikes.

-ABC News' Rashid Haddou

New Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill at least 5 in spite of ceasefire

In spite of Friday's ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese Civil Defense said that at least five people have been killed on Saturday morning in a mixture of airstrikes, drone strikes and artillery shelling that has been hitting Lebanon.

The Lebanese Army also confirmed that a member of the military killed.

"Israeli brutal attacks on Lebanon continue after the latest escalation reached wide areas in the south all the way to the Bekaa Valley, resulting in more martyrs and wounded, and causing extensive destruction to properties," the Lebanese Army said in a post on social media.

"It has become clear that the continuation of these Israeli brutal attacks aims to obstruct any solution that would allow the restoration of stability in Lebanon," the statement continued.

ABC News has reached out to the IDF for a comment on the latest alleged attacks.

-ABC News' Rashid 

Witkoff en route to Switzerland: US official

Trump administration Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is en route to Switzerland, where Jared Kushner is expected to join him, a U.S. official said.

The travel comes after talks between the U.S. and Iran, originally set to begin Friday, were initially postponed.

Vance tells Israel 'you can’t just kill your way out' of every national problem in interview

Vice President JD Vance claimed that Israel was getting some misinformation about the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, in an interview recorded before his trip to Switzerland was canceled.

"It’s clear that large segments of the Israeli political system and population are very sensitive about this deal. But I also think they’re picking up on some misinformation about the deal and running with it and sort of panicking about it,” Vance told the New York Times in a interview.


"I fundamentally believe this deal will be good for the entire region and for the world. That includes, of course, the Israelis," he said.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that the U.S. intelligence agencies have warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take steps that will undermine Trump’s effort to reach a peace deal with Iran.

Vance also made some pointed comments directed at Israel.


"I don’t think Bibi himself has actually criticized the deal. Because I think he’s maybe a little bit more familiar with the details of what’s in it. But you’ve seen people in their system, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who’ve attacked the deal," Vance said.


"And I guess my response to them would be: What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of nine million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have," Vance said.


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