US Vice President JD Vance has postponed this evening's planned trip to Switzerland, the White House announced ahead of Midsummer Eve.
"The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. At this time, the Vice President will not be traveling this evening," the White House said in a statement, saying it looked forward to "beginning the technical talks as soon as possible."
Shortly afterwards, the Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed to AFP that the planned talks in Bürgenstock would not take place.
“Mediators are working”
Three sources told the Financial Times that Israel's renewed airstrikes on Lebanon were the reason for the cancellation of the talks. According to Israel, around 80 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon were attacked overnight into Friday, resulting in many deaths.
The Iranians have demanded guarantees that hostilities in Lebanon will cease in accordance with the signed agreement, a diplomat told the Financial Times, stating that “mediators are working to resolve the issue.”
CNN and the pro-Iranian Lebanese al-Mayadeen also reported that Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon were the reason the talks had been postponed.
Nuclear energy to be discussed
Both Republicans and Democrats have accused the Trump administration of having completely capitulated to the agreement - which includes major concessions to Iran. JD Vance and President Donald Trump have defended the agreement, which is effectively a declaration of intent to negotiate a more long-term peace over the next 60 days.
During the deliberations that were supposed to begin on Friday, the difficult issue of Iran's nuclear energy program would have been discussed, among other things.
JD Vance announced on Thursday that the US was lifting its blockade of Iranian ports around the Strait of Hormuz as part of the agreement.
