Talks between the United States and Iran due to take place on Friday in Switzerland were abruptly called off as Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers and Israel carried out a wave of retaliatory airstrikes in south Lebanon and the Bekaa valley, killing at least 18 people.
The negotiations, which were to be led by Vice-President JD Vance, had been scheduled to begin in the Swiss village of Obbürgen two days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding that opened a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent understanding over Iran's nuclear programme, while also allowing oil traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz.
The White House said it looked forward to “beginning technical talks as soon as possible”, but announced that Vance would no longer be travelling. “The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice-president is not departing tonight,” a spokesperson said late on Thursday.
The cancellation came as Israel and Hezbollah traded their most violent strikes since the ceasefire was established. Hezbollah targeted Israeli forces near the city of Nabatieh with rocket fire and drones overnight, while Israel responded with airstrikes on the city and surrounding towns, leaving at least 18 dead and 33 wounded, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called for scorched earth in Lebanon, saying: “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn.” The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, urged Israel to stop its strikes and said the US must pressure it to respect the ceasefire.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, had approved the memorandum despite reservations, and the US officially lifted a blockade of Iranian ports. However, Iran's Tasnim news agency said negotiators needed to see signs of implementation before further talks, and a Hezbollah-allied network reported that Tehran was delaying its delegation owing to Israel's ongoing military campaign. Israel has continued its strikes in Lebanon, and Hezbollah said it destroyed three Israeli tanks in the south, though Israel did not confirm the claim.
