Investing.com -- Israeli forces said on Sunday they had killed two operatives linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as attention remained focused on the start of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Switzerland.
The Israeli military identified the individuals as Hussein Qadra and Mohammed Farra, saying they operated within the military wings of the two groups.
According to the military, Qadra helped oversee a network that facilitated the transfer of more than 500 million shekels ($145 million) to Hamas under the direction of the group’s leadership.
U.S. and Iranian officials are set to begin talks in Switzerland on Sunday aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire and advancing negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, Bloomberg reported.
The discussions come days after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding that established a 60-day negotiating period between the two countries, with the option to extend the talks if needed.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland ahead of the meeting and said the immediate objective was to establish a framework for future negotiations.
"I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue," Vance told reporters before departing Washington.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir are also expected to attend the talks, adding two key mediators to the discussions.
Iran’s delegation includes Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, according to state media.
The negotiations were delayed earlier this week after renewed clashes in southern Lebanon between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Although the memorandum of understanding halted direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran, tensions remain over the implementation of the agreement and the future of Iran’s nuclear activities.
Another source of uncertainty emerged after Iran renewed its order to close the Strait of Hormuz, despite previously agreeing to reopen the strategic waterway under the terms of the memorandum.
On Sunday, Reuters said Iran’s Fars news agency cited a military soruce saying no new permits were being issued for ships to cross until further notice.
The strait handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments.
U.S. Central Command said commercial traffic through the waterway increased on Saturday, with 55 merchant vessels carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil transiting the route.
Questions remain over whether Iran’s latest move will significantly disrupt shipping activity.
President Trump said on Saturday that no transit tolls should be imposed during the negotiation period, warning against measures that could hinder commercial traffic.
The talks are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program, implementation of the ceasefire framework, and broader regional security issues, including the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Washington has already lifted a naval blockade of Iranian ports and pledged sanctions waivers on Iranian oil exports as part of the memorandum, while Tehran committed to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
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