US-Iran talks postponed as Vance pulls out of Switzerland trip

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. US-Iran talks postponed as Vance pulls out of Switzerland trip5 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleJessica RawnsleyReutersUS Vice-President JD Vance cancelled his planned trip to Switzerland late on ThursdayA new round of direct talks between the US and Iran have been postponed after Vice-President JD Vance delayed a planned trip to Switzerland. The White House announced late on Thursday that Vance would not be travelling to the talks and said the logistics had not been "simple or predictable". It comes a day after the US dropped its naval blockade of Iran after the two countries signed a deal aimed at ending the conflict.

While the deal also said fighting should end in Lebanon, the country's health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed at least 18 people in the south overnight. Israel's military said it had targeted the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, and that four of its own soldiers had been killed. Negotiators had been due to meet for what US officials described as "technical discussions" on the next steps of the agreement signed earlier this week.

The Details

But in its statement, the White House said plans for the talks had "not been finalised". It added that the US looked forward to "beginning technical talks as soon as possible". Switzerland's foreign ministry later confirmed the talks at the Burgenstock mountaintop resort had been "postponed", although it said preparations for talks were continuing.

The negotiations had been expected to focus on implementing the agreement and begin discussions on longer-term issues, including Iran's nuclear programme. Centred around 14 points, the deal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a requirement that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, a $300bn (£224bn) plan for Iran's "reconstruction", and the US terminating "all types of sanctions" on Iran. It also binds both sides to achieving a final deal in a "maximum" of 60 days, which could be extended with mutual consent.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he had approved the deal with the US despite having a "different view", claiming Trump had "out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage" to bring it about. 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". Hezbollah-linked Lebanese media had reported that the talks had been suspended due to ongoing Israeli air strikes.

What Experts Say

Iran has always insisted that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire - something Israel has rejected, arguing its conflict against Hezbollah is separate from its war on Iran. Hezbollah has also rejected the terms of the deal between Iran and the US. US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he expected a ceasefire to take effect "on all fronts", including between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The text of the agreement also calls for the permanent cessation of the conflict and for Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty to be ensured.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.