US-Iran nuclear talks postponed after Iran links talks to Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Negotiations on a U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement were delayed when Iranian officials said the talks could not start until Israel halted its strikes in Lebanon, prompting Vice President JD Vance to postpone his planned trip to Switzerland.
The United States' effort to launch technical talks with Iran under a recently signed 14-point agreement was put on hold after Iranian officials refused to travel to the Swiss resort of Obbürgen. They said the talks could not begin until Israel stopped its military actions against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to regional officials and a source familiar with the discussions.
Israel and Lebanon announced a renewal of their cease-fire on Friday, but fighting in southern Lebanon has intensified, with at least 18 people killed by Israeli airstrikes and four Israeli soldiers dead, officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would maintain a security zone in the area as long as security needs required.
Vice President JD Vance had been ready to fly to Switzerland for an overnight meeting with Iranian counterparts. A White House statement said Vance postponed the trip, citing the unpredictable logistics of the negotiations. Vance told reporters that the technical talks were still planned for the weekend but could change.
Shortly after Vance’s comments, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a brief statement, read by state media, endorsing direct negotiations with the United States while asserting that future talks would not mean accepting the enemy’s position.
Analysts noted that Iran may feel it holds a stronger bargaining position after recent disruptions to oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. One expert said the Iranian leadership’s endorsement of the talks sends a signal that Tehran sees itself on an equal footing with the United States.
The delayed talks occur amid domestic political tension in Washington. Some Republican lawmakers have criticized aspects of the agreement, including a proposed $300 billion fund for Iran’s reconstruction, arguing it conflicts with President Donald Trump’s stated goals. Trump has previously attacked the 2015 nuclear deal and warned that Iran would receive no U.S. money.
The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear when or if the postponed negotiations will resume.
