Report: U.S. Delegation in Lebanon for Talks with Senior Officials

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman will visit Lebanon on the head of a delegation during this week for talks with senior Lebanese officials.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday, Sherman will tackle the latest regional and international developments with Lebanese officials, including the latest marathon talks in Geneva aimed at convincing Iran to halt its disputed nuclear program.

The daily reported that Sherman arrived on Sunday in Israel and held talks with several officials.

Diplomats on Sunday insisted they were closing in on agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite the failure to clinch a long-sought deal.

The Islamic republic has been crippled by a series of U.N. and U.S. sanctions aimed at bringing an end to its nuclear drive, which the West claims is being used to develop atomic weapons. Iran denies the assertion.

The so-called P5+1 group of major powers -- Britain, France, the United States, Russia, China plus Germany -- plan to meet again with Iranian delegates on November 20 with the hope of securing a short-term deal that would freeze the country's nuclear activities while both sides work on a comprehensive agreement.