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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

US-Iran Peace Talks Delayed Amid Israeli Attacks on Lebanon

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • US-Iran peace talks, scheduled to begin in Switzerland, have been delayed due to Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon.
  • The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, postponed its departure, with the White House citing the complex nature of the negotiations.
  • Iran reportedly linked the delay to Israel's continued military operations, which violate the terms of a recently signed memorandum of understanding on a ceasefire.
  • Israel has continued shelling and airstrikes in southern Lebanon, including areas like Nabatieh, following the signing of the MoU.

The planned peace talks between the United States and Iran, aimed at establishing a ceasefire, have encountered an immediate obstacle before their official commencement. The negotiations, set to begin in Switzerland, have been postponed due to Israel's persistent attacks on southern Lebanon.

Our plan was to go to Switzerland, but I don't know exactly when.

— JD VanceReferring to the planned technical negotiations between the US and Iran.

A US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, was scheduled to meet with an Iranian team headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. However, the US delegation abruptly delayed its departure for Switzerland. The White House stated that the schedule for the upcoming technical negotiations was not yet finalized and that the Vice President would not be departing as planned that evening, citing the intricate and unpredictable nature of the coordination involved.

The technical negotiations are expected to start this weekend. That is still the plan, but it could change.

— JD VanceDiscussing the timeline for the upcoming negotiations.

Reports suggest that Iran has cited Israel's ongoing military actions in Lebanon as the reason for delaying its delegation's travel. The Lebanese Al Mayadeen television network reported that the Iranian delegation canceled its trip to Switzerland due to Israel's continued attacks in southern Lebanon. Sources indicated that the delegation was planning to depart for the initial 60-day negotiations but decided to postpone following Israel's actions.

The coordination for this negotiation has never been simple or predictable.

— White House spokespersonExplaining the reasons for the delay in the US delegation's travel.

These Israeli operations, which have involved deep incursions into Lebanese territory and continued shelling and airstrikes in areas like Nabatieh, are seen by Iran as a clear violation of the first clause of the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a ceasefire. The MoU reportedly includes provisions for a cessation of hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon. Israel's decision to release a map detailing an 'expanded area' related to its operations in southern Lebanon further signals its intent to escalate.

Continuing operations and attacks deep inside Lebanese territory by Israel is a clear violation of the first provision of the memorandum of understanding on a ceasefire.

— SourceDescribing Iran's position on Israel's actions in Lebanon.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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