Tehran holds back from talks to cement ceasefire due to ongoing Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.
By AFP and AP
Planned talks in Switzerland between the United States and Iran to discuss the technical terms of their ceasefire deal have been postponed.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed early on Friday that the talks, which were scheduled to take place in Burgenstock, would not go ahead. The postponement has raised fears that the ceasefire deal signed by the US and Iran earlier this week could already unwind.
Reports suggest that Iran has delayed sending its delegation to discuss the technical issues linked to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a ceasefire – digitally signed by the two countries on Wednesday – due to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon.
Israeli attacks overnight and into Friday have reportedly killed at least 18 people in southern Lebanon, with Iran-linked Hezbollah reporting intense fighting.
Bullish response
Iran, which has recently sensed Trump’s enthusiasm to agree an end to a war increasingly unpopular in the US, has responded bullishly, declaring that Tehran had reservations even while nodding to the plan.
