JD Vance’s staff were at an airbase preparing to fly to the summit in Obbürgen before the trip was suddenly cancelled.
Talks scheduled for Friday between the US and Iran in Switzerland to implement a peace deal were cancelled after Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers and Israel launched a wave of retaliatory airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, killing at least 18 people.
The talks had been due to begin in the Swiss village of Obbürgen two days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that opened a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent agreement over Iran’s nuclear programme and to help restore oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The White House said the US still looked forward to “beginning technical talks as soon as possible”, while announcing that JD Vance, the vice-president who is leading negotiations for the Trump administration, would no longer be travelling.
“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president is not departing tonight,” a White House spokesperson said late on Thursday.
The cancellation of the talks came as Israel and Hezbollah exchanged their most intense strikes since the ceasefire was established. Hezbollah targeted Israeli forces near the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon with multiple salvos of rockets and drones overnight, following intermittent Israeli shelling throughout Thursday.
Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes on the city and surrounding towns, targeting what it said were Hezbollah positions, leaving at least 18 people dead and 33 injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Hezbollah said it was targeting Israeli forces attempting to advance toward the foothills surrounding Nabatieh, a flashpoint where intermittent fighting has continued since the US–Iran ceasefire was announced. Prior to the truce, Israeli forces had been advancing toward the southern Lebanese city.
The killing of Israeli soldiers sparked anger within Israel, with national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for a scorched-earth response in Lebanon.
“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement.
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Israel on Friday to halt its strikes in Lebanon, saying the US must also pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire agreement.
“This agreement provides for a cessation of hostilities. The Israeli government must respect it, and the United States in particular must exert all the necessary pressure on the Israeli government to ensure that this is the case,” Barrot said on France Info radio.
The cancellation of the talks between Iran and the US on Friday came so abruptly that Vance’s staff and a small group of journalists had gathered at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington in anticipation of the trip. Dozens of White House officials, advance staff, and media personnel were already in Switzerland preparing for Vance’s expected arrival.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday that he had approved the memorandum of understanding (MoU) despite reservations, while the US simultaneously lifted a blockade on Iranian ports.
Before the talks were cancelled, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian negotiators needed to see signs that the US was implementing the interim agreement before the next round of peace talks could begin, adding that there was no confirmation its delegation would travel to Geneva.
The talks were reportedly cancelled after Al Mayadeen, a network close to Hezbollah, said Tehran was postponing its delegation’s travel to Switzerland due to Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Israel—excluded from the US–Iran negotiations—kept up its strikes in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of breaking the ceasefire, a claim Hezbollah rejected.
Hezbollah said its fighters destroyed three Israeli tanks in southern Lebanon amid ongoing clashes, though Israel did not confirm any losses.
The conflict in Lebanon began on 2 March after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, saying it was retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader by the US and Israel. Since then, fighting and Israeli operations have caused heavy casualties, with thousands reported dead in Lebanon and dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians killed.
Israel has also declared a “security zone” in southern Lebanon, which Lebanese authorities strongly oppose, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal as part of the US–Iran understanding.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) requires a permanent end to the war in Lebanon and guarantees the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Donald Trump has said he expects a full ceasefire across all fronts.
However, Israel has refused to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, drawing criticism from Trump and JD Vance. Vance said Israel must respect the peace process, warning that repeated violence is undermining progress toward an agreement.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also cautioned that any violation of the deal would be met with a strong response from Tehran.
Overall, the diplomatic process remains uncertain, and doubts continue over whether a lasting ceasefire can be achieved in a conflict that has already killed thousands, disrupted global energy markets, and caused wider regional instability.
Khamenei said on Thursday that Trump signed the deal “out of desperation” and warned that Iran would not accept overly strict demands from the US, saying future talks would not be easy.
The agreement gives both sides 60 days to reach a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, with the option to extend the deadline if needed. It also includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran along with other financial support.
The US has lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports, though its warships are still operating nearby.
Meanwhile, activity in the Strait of Hormuz remains low, after disruptions caused during the conflict in this key global energy route.
