Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has defended his country's decision to engage in negotiations with the United States in Switzerland, arguing that the talks were necessary to help halt violence in Lebanon.

The development may signal that both sides intend to begin technical talks aimed at securing a permanent truce.

Talks between Iran and the US over an interim war deal have been postponed as fighting intensifies in Lebanon. Iran's joint military command announced the closure of the Strait of…