A meeting between the United States and Iran in Switzerland to discuss technical aspects of a ceasefire agreement has been postponed. The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed early Friday that the meeting, scheduled for the mountain resort of Bürgenstock, is not taking place. The postponement of the talks has raised concerns that the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran could collapse.
Iran has postponed sending a delegation to Switzerland to discuss the technical aspects of a ceasefire agreement the two countries signed virtually on Wednesday, citing Israel’s ongoing campaign in Lebanon, according to various news reports.
The report also said that at least 18 people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon from Thursday night to Friday. At the same time, Hezbollah, an armed group close to Iran in Lebanon, reported widespread clashes in the area.
US President JD Vance was preparing to leave for talks with Iranian representatives at a mountain resort in Switzerland. His colleagues and some journalists had gathered at Joint Base Andrews near Washington in anticipation of his visit.
As Trump continues to lose support within the United States over the Iran war, Iran has sensed Trump’s growing interest in ending the war. Tehran has taken a tough stance, saying it has some reservations about agreeing to the plan.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of Iran’s negotiating team, said on Friday that any talks must remain within Tehran’s borders. He said one of Iran’s main demands in the talks on the deal is to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Ghalibaf added, “We have proven that if the enemy overreacts, our finger is on the trigger and we do not hesitate to give a tough response to the enemy.”
As uncertainty over the future of the agreement grows, mediators Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have agreed to meet in the Egyptian city of Alamein next Sunday, authorities in Cairo and Islamabad confirmed.
US President Donald TrumpPhoto: AFP
The delegations were due to meet after a formal ceremony at the Bürgenstock resort near the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. The resort is owned by Qatar Hospitality, a company part of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, which has also played a role in mediating peace talks between Iran and the United States.
In a message sent to the AFP news agency today, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that scheduled talks between the United States, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed.
Switzerland also said it was still ready to move forward with the talks. Preparations are underway in Bürgenstock. However, no new date has been set for the talks.
The announcement came after Al-Mayadeen reported that Iran was delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland due to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Israeli army would remain in a “safe zone” in southern Lebanon for as long as “Israel’s security needs require it.”
Israel and Hezbollah are not party to the deal, but Iran insists that Israel must withdraw from a large part of southern Lebanon it occupies.
Trump is losing support within the United States over the Iran war. In a situation where Iran has realized that Trump is increasingly interested in ending the war, Tehran has taken a tough stance, saying that although it agrees to the plan, it has some objections.
Growing division
The initiative to start high-level talks between the United States and Iran has suffered a setback, just two days after the signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding.
JD Vance was preparing to leave for talks with Iranian representatives at a mountain resort in Switzerland. His colleagues and a few journalists had gathered at Joint Base Andrews near Washington in anticipation of his visit.
At the same time, dozens of White House officials, advance preparation teams, and journalists were already in Switzerland to welcome Vance.
However, the tour was suddenly canceled on Thursday evening.
The White House said that Vance, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the talks, and his delegation were ready for the talks, but plans had not been finalized. So the vice president will remain in Washington.
Israel’s refusal to halt its military operations in Lebanon has fueled growing anger in the US White House, as it risks jeopardizing a ceasefire with Iran.
Vance reacted strongly on Thursday evening after hardline Israeli ministers said their military was not obligated to abide by the US-Iran deal, before talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland were postponed.
“If I were in the Israeli government’s cabinet, maybe I wouldn’t have hurt my only powerful ally in the world,” Vance said.
