Top US negotiators head to Switzerland for indirect talks with Iran, following a resumption of diplomacy after months of conflict and heightened regional tensions.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s top envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will represent the United States in nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva this week. The White House confirmed the delegation’s travel on Sunday.

An anonymous US official told AFP the two men, who have been Trump’s lead Iran negotiators, would lead the Washington team. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will represent Tehran in the negotiations.

The talks in Switzerland will be “indirect,” mirroring the format of a previous round held in Oman. Tehran and Washington restarted negotiations in Muscat on February 6.

This followed a collapse in talks last June after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, starting a 12-day war. The United States joined that war, carrying out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The latest diplomatic effort comes amid continued US pressure on Tehran. Washington has recently threatened military action and deployed an aircraft carrier group to the region following Iran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests last month.

After the Iran talks, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to participate in US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine, also to be held in Geneva

 The Sun Malaysia