Israel Continues Attacks on Lebanon, US-Iran Talks in Switzerland Postponed

Planned talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland to discuss the technical terms of a ceasefire agreement have been postponed. The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday morning that the negotiations, scheduled to take place in Burgenstock, would not proceed.

Al Jazeera reported that Iran delayed sending its delegation to discuss technical issues related to the ceasefire agreement – which was digitally signed by both countries on Wednesday – because of the ongoing Israeli military aggression in Lebanon.

Overnight Israeli attacks up to Friday reportedly killed at least 16 people in southern Lebanon, and Iran-linked Hezbollah reported fierce fighting. Meanwhile, Hezbollah attacks killed four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander.

The ceremony and subsequent talks were to be held at the Burgenstock Resort in Stansstad, near Lucerne in central Switzerland. The resort is owned by Katara Hospitality, part of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, which helped mediate peace in the conflict.

In a message to the AFP news agency on Friday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said: ‘The planned talks between the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed.’

‘Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these negotiations. The relevant preparatory work in Burgenstock is continuing,’ it added, without providing a new date for the talks.

The announcement followed a report by Al Mayadeen media that Iran postponed sending its delegation to Switzerland due to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Israeli military would remain in a ‘security zone’ in southern Lebanon for as long as ‘Israel’s security needs require it’.

Israel and Hezbollah are not parties to the agreement, but Iran insists that Israel must withdraw from most of the southern Lebanese territory it occupies.