US-Iran ceasefire talks stall as Vance calls off Switzerland trip

Switzerland has confirmed that planned talks between the United States and Iran over their new ceasefire deal have been postponed, after US Vice-President JD Vance called off a trip to the Swiss resort where the meeting was meant to take place.

The discussions, set for the Burgenstock resort near Lucerne, had been due to cover the technical terms of the agreement that the two countries signed on Wednesday.

The deal, built around 14 points, sets out a framework for talks during a 60-day negotiating period, which can be extended if both sides agree. It includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a requirement that Iran will never hold a nuclear weapon, a $300 billion (£224 billion) plan for Iran's reconstruction, and a US pledge to end "all types of sanctions" on the country. The postponement came just a day after the US lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The talks had been expected to focus on putting the agreement into practice and on longer-term issues, including Iran's nuclear programme. 

Reports suggested Iran had held back its delegation over Israel's continued military campaign in Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah are not parties to the deal, but Iran has insisted that Israel withdraw from the large stretch of southern Lebanon it is occupying.

Vance, who has been chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the negotiations, had been ready to make an overnight flight to meet his Iranian counterparts. His staff and a small group of journalists had gathered at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, while dozens of White House officials and media had assembled in Switzerland. 

The trip was then called off abruptly on Thursday evening. The White House said Vance and his delegation were prepared, but had been unable to finalise plans, and that he would remain in Washington. 

On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump signed a copy of the US-Iran agreement at the Palace of Versailles in France. “It’s signed,” Trump said. The document was also signed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to photos published by Iranian state media. The text of the agreement ends the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel has continued to carry out strikes.

“This was not easy,” President Donald Trump said while signing the US-Iran memorandum in the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday evening (Photo: White House)

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed at least 18 people in the south overnight, with 33 injured, in what the country's state news agency described as one of the most intense bombardments of the war. 

Israel's military said it had targeted infrastructure and people linked to Hezbollah, and that four of its own soldiers had been killed. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israeli forces would stay in southern Lebanon for as long as the country's security needs required.

Far-right Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said “all of Lebanon should burn” after a Hezbollah explosive device killed four Israeli soldiers on Lebanese territory overnight Friday.

“For every tear shed by an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers should cry,” Ben Gvir said on X “All of Lebanon should burn.”

Ben Gvir has repeatedly pushed for more intense Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including attacks on the capital, Beirut, even as President Donald Trump has compelled Israel to scale back its attacks.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he expected a ceasefire to take hold "on all fronts,” including between Israel and Hezbollah 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 sacrifice,” Ben Gvir said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he had approved the deal despite holding a "different view,” claiming Trump had "out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage" to secure it. 

He said future in-person talks between Tehran and Washington would not mean "acceptance of the enemy's position.