Tel Aviv: Fresh strikes by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) against the Hezbollah in Lebanon on Friday threatens to jeopardize the peace negotiations between the US and Iran.
The strikes by the IDF left at least 16 people dead and several more injured, Al Jazeera reported.
This came a day after the US and Iran signed an understanding to end hostilities for 60 days by when a final peace deal is to be worked out. Iran has been demanding cessation of hostilities by Israel against the Hezbollah for a peaceful solution to the Middle East crisis.
The understanding between Washington and Tehran also called for cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.
The IDF said in a statement that they carried out numerous attacks on southern Lebanon overnight. These were in response to Hezbollah’s “repeated violations of the ceasefire,” as per Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, the Swiss foreign ministry confirmed that the planned talks between the US and Iran are postponed. It responded to an email by ANI, and said that
it remains ready to facilitate these talks.
“The planned talks between the US, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan have been postponed. Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks. The relevant preparatory work at Burgenstock is continuing. No further information can be provided at present,” it said.
US vice president J D Vance will not depart for Switzerland for further discussions as the plans for the talks have not been finalised, a White House spokesperson said on Thursday (local time).
A delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity, the spokesperson said, ANI reported.
“As the Vice President said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalised, and the US delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity. But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable,” the spokesperson said.
“As of now, the Vice President is not departing tonight. We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible,” the White House said.
In Tehran, the Iranian secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council announced that if the other side violates the agreement, countermeasures will be taken accordingly.
“With complete distrust of the renegade and treaty-breaking enemy and with close monitoring of the negotiation process and implementation of plans, if any violations or violations are committed by the American side, countermeasures will be taken according to a predetermined plan,” the council said, as reported by ISNA News Agency.