US-Iran Talks Delayed as VP Vance Postpones Switzerland Trip; Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Takes Effect

A fresh round of direct talks between the US and Iran has been put on hold after Vice President JD Vance delayed a planned trip to Switzerland.

The White House confirmed late Thursday that Vance would not be heading to the talks, noting that the logistics were “not simple or predictable.” The announcement came just a day after Washington lifted its naval blockade of Iran, following a new deal aimed at ending the conflict between the two countries.

That deal was supposed to calm tensions across the region, including Lebanon. It explicitly called for fighting to stop there. But Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 47 people overnight Thursday and into Friday.

Israel’s military said it was targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, and reported that four of its own soldiers were killed in the exchanges.

Earlier on Friday, Hezbollah-linked Lebanese media claimed the US-Iran talks had been suspended because of the ongoing Israeli air strikes.

But the situation shifted hours later. A US official announced that an immediate ceasefire had been agreed between Israel and Hezbollah to end the fighting in Lebanon. The truce took effect at 16:00 local time, 14:00 BST.

Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin confirmed the deal: “We are in a ceasefire. The IDF is prepared to continue fighting if called upon to do so.”

The ceasefire came just as US and Iranian negotiators were supposed to meet for what American officials called “technical discussions” on implementing the broader US-Iran agreement reached earlier this week. That deal demands an end to hostilities on all fronts and respect for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

For now, Washington says plans for the next round of talks on the deal have “not been finalized,” but it hopes to “begin technical talks as soon as possible.”

Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed the meetings at the Burgenstock mountaintop resort have been “postponed,” though preparations are still underway. Swiss military and police had already locked down the luxury hotel overlooking Lake Lucerne, and a media center was set up for journalists expecting the negotiations.

So while diplomacy between Washington and Tehran hits a pause, at least one flashpoint has cooled — with a fragile ceasefire now holding between Israel and Hezbollah.