US-Iran talks abruptly called off after Israel and Hezbollah trade deadly attacks | US-Israel war on Iran

Talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland to implement a peace deal between the United States and Iran were canceled after Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers and Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley. killed at least 18 people.

The talks were to begin in the Swiss village of Obbürgen two days after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that opened a 60-day window to reach a permanent agreement on Iran’s nuclear program while allowing oil traffic to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House announced that J.D. Vance, who led negotiations for the Trump administration, would no longer travel and said the United States looked forward to “beginning technical discussions as soon as possible.”

“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president is not leaving tonight,” a White House spokesman said in a statement late Thursday. The cancellation of the talks came as Israel and Hezbollah carried out their most violent attacks since the ceasefire was established.

Hezbollah targeted Israeli forces near the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon with numerous rockets and drone salvos throughout the night. on friday After intermittent Israeli bombardment throughout the day. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israel responded with a series of airstrikes on the city and surrounding towns that it said were Hezbollah targets; At least 18 were left dead and 33 injured.

Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli forces trying to advance into the foothills surrounding Nabatieh, a flashpoint where intermittent fighting has occurred since the declaration of the US-Iran ceasefire. Before the ceasefire, Israeli forces were advancing towards the southern Lebanese city.

The killing of Israeli soldiers sparked outrage within Israel, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for scorched earth in Lebanon.

“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are non-negotiable. All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement.

French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday called on Israel to stop its attacks in Lebanon and said the United States should pressure Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement.

Barrot said on France Info radio: “This agreement provides for a cessation of hostilities, the Israeli government must respect this and the United States in particular must apply all necessary pressure on the Israeli government to ensure that this is the case.”

The cancellation of talks between Iran and the United States on Friday was so sudden that Vance’s team and a small group of journalists had even gathered at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington in anticipation of the trip. Dozens of White House officials, advanced staff and media were already in Switzerland to prepare for Vance’s anticipated arrival.

Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that he approved the Memorandum of Understanding despite reservations, while at the same time the US officially lifted the blockade of Iranian ports.

But before the talks were called off, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said Iranian negotiators needed to see signs from the United States that the interim agreement was being implemented before the next round of peace talks could begin, and that there was no confirmation that the delegation would go to Geneva.

The cancellation of the talks followed a report by Arabic-language network Al Mayadeen, which is politically allied with the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, stating that Tehran had delayed sending its delegation to Switzerland due to Israel’s ongoing military operation in Lebanon.

Israel, which has not been included in peace talks and has moved away from the US-Iran deal, continued its war in Lebanon and launched new airstrikes early Friday, accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire; this was an accusation leveled against Israel by the armed group.

Hezbollah said on Friday that its fighters had destroyed three Israeli tanks in the south of the country and that fighting “continues”. Israel did not confirm that its tanks were hit.

Clashes in Lebanon began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel. He said he was taking revenge for the killing of Iran’s former religious leader by the United States and Israel. Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon and its bombing campaign led to the deaths of more than 3,900 people in Lebanon. Hezbollah killed at least 32 Israeli soldiers and 3 Israeli civilians in Lebanon.

On Thursday, Israel announced what it called a “security zone” in southern Lebanon, consisting of hundreds of square miles of Lebanese territory. Lebanese officials demanded the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces; Iran said this was required by the memorandum of understanding reached with the United States.

The Memorandum of Understanding calls for a “permanent end” to the war in Lebanon and the restoration of the country’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.” US President Donald Trump said he expects a complete ceasefire on all fronts.

Israel has so far insisted it will not withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, prompting open criticism from Trump and Vance. On Thursday, Vance said Israel must respect the peace process.

“What the president was frustrated about at times was that we appeared to be on the verge of a major breakthrough in the agreement, and then all of a sudden there was a massive explosion in the civilian population center in Beirut, killing a lot of people who had nothing to do with Hezbollah,” Vance told reporters, adding that such actions were “unacceptable.”

On Friday, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagher Galibaf, warned against any violation of the agreement, saying, “We have no doubt that in case of abuse, violation of the agreement and overreach by the other side, there will be a decisive response to the enemy.”

The diplomatic back-and-forth over the planned talks is raising uncertainty about whether a lasting cease-fire can be found in a regional war that has killed at least 7,000 people, sent energy prices soaring and rattled global markets.

On Thursday, Khamenei said Trump signed the agreement “out of desperation” and signaled that further negotiations would not be easy.

“If the American side wants to be too demanding, we will not accept it,” he said in his written message. The deal gives negotiators 60 days to reach an agreement on the status of Iran’s nuclear program unless both sides agree to an extension and create a $300 billion reconstruction fund and other financial incentives for Iran.

On Thursday, U.S. forces lifted a naval blockade of Iranian ports that had prevented ships from entering and exiting the country, noting that American warships “will remain in the general area.”

Activity was still quiet in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic bottleneck for energy shipments that Iran has blockaded during the conflict.