WASHINGTON — Planned U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at advancing a broader peace agreement were postponed on Friday after renewed violence in Lebanon raised doubts about the durability of a recently announced diplomatic framework, according to U.S., Iranian and regional officials.
The talks, scheduled to take place in Switzerland, were expected to focus on implementing commitments contained in a memorandum of understanding reached earlier this month between Washington and Tehran. However, escalating clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon prompted both sides to delay the meeting, officials said.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance postponed his planned trip to Switzerland, with the White House saying logistical issues remained unresolved and that negotiations had not been finalized. Iranian officials also signaled reluctance to proceed while fighting continued in Lebanon.
The postponement followed a fresh round of violence in southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported casualties from Israeli airstrikes, while the Israeli military said soldiers were killed in clashes with Hezbollah fighters. Casualty figures reported by the respective sides could not be independently verified.
Iran has repeatedly linked progress in its negotiations with Washington to developments in Lebanon. Iranian state-linked media earlier this month reported that Tehran had suspended indirect contacts with the United States over Israeli military operations in Lebanon, arguing that regional ceasefire commitments must apply across multiple fronts.
Despite the setback, diplomatic efforts continued. Officials from the United States, Qatar and other mediators worked to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah after the latest escalation threatened to undermine the broader diplomatic initiative.
“We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible,” the White House said in a statement cited by multiple media outlets after confirming that the U.S. delegation would not depart for Switzerland as originally planned.
Later on Friday, U.S. officials and regional mediators said a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah had been reached, although reports indicated that some clashes continued after the truce was announced. Both sides publicly expressed support for efforts to halt the fighting, while details of implementation remained unclear.
As of Friday evening, no new date had been announced for the postponed U.S.-Iran talks. Officials from both countries said they remained committed to diplomacy, while mediators continued efforts to stabilize the situation in Lebanon and resume negotiations.
