Reuters
A new round of direct talks between the United States and Iran has been postponed after Vice President JD Vance delayed a planned trip to Switzerland.
The White House announced Thursday evening that Vance would not attend the negotiations and said the logistics had not been “simple or predictable.”
It comes a day after the United States lifted its naval blockade on Iran after the two countries signed a deal aimed at ending the conflict.
While the deal also calls for an end to fighting in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 18 people in the south overnight.
The Israeli military said it targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and that four of its own soldiers were killed.
But in its statement, the White House said plans for the negotiations had “not been finalized.” He added that the United States looked forward to “starting technical negotiations as soon as possible.”
The Swiss Foreign Ministry later confirmed that negotiations in the Burgenstock mountain resort had been “postponed”, but said preparations were continuing.
Negotiations were expected to focus on implementing the deal and begin discussions on longer-term issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Centered around 14 pointsthe deal includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the demand that Iran will never have nuclear weapons, a $300 billion (£224 billion) plan for the “reconstruction” of Iran and the US ending “all types of sanctions” against Iran.
It also requires both parties to reach a final agreement within a “maximum” period of 60 days, which could be extended by mutual agreement.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he approved the deal with the United States despite his “different point of view,” saying Trump had “out of desperation, used all kinds of levers” to achieve it.
He said that while there would be “in-person negotiations in the future” between Tehran and Washington, this “would not mean acceptance of the enemy’s position.”
Lebanese media linked to Hezbollah reported that the talks had been suspended due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
Iran has always insisted that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire – something Israel has rejected, arguing that its conflict against Hezbollah is separate from its war against Iran.
US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he hoped a ceasefire would come into effect “on all fronts”, including between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The text of the agreement also calls for a definitive cessation of the conflict and to guarantee the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.
Lebanon’s official news agency described the nighttime bombardment in the southern district of Nabatieh as one of the most intense of the war, with at least 18 dead, 33 injured and several buildings hit.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it targeted infrastructure and individuals linked to Hezbollah.
