U.S.-Iran Follow-up Talks Stumble After Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon

As Israel continues its airstrikes in Lebanon despite the recent ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, follow-up negotiations to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two nations have hit a snag from the start.

According to Reuters and the U.S. media outlet Axios on June 19 (local time), the Israeli military continued its attacks overnight, striking Hezbollah personnel and related facilities across southern Lebanon.

In a statement released on the morning of June 19, the Israeli military claimed that the operation was a response to repeated ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Local media reported that at least 15 people were killed in southern Lebanon due to clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah that lasted from the morning of June 18 through the night.

Israel maintains that it has the right to respond to threats against its territory and citizens, even under ceasefire conditions.

Despite the signing of an MOU declaring an end to military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, the continued armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah led to the cancellation of the first working-level talks between the U.S. and Iran, which were scheduled to be held in Switzerland on June 19.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs stated that the meeting between the U.S. and Iran, which was planned to take place in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, would not be held that day.

This meeting was intended to be the first working-level negotiation for the two countries to discuss issues such as Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions, in accordance with the MOU.

Prior to the Swiss government's announcement, the White House had already notified that the visit to Switzerland by U.S. lead negotiator Vice President J.D. Vance had been postponed.

A White House spokesperson said, "Plans for working-level talks have not yet been finalized," adding, "The practical coordination of such negotiations has never been easy or predictable."

The spokesperson further stated, "The U.S. delegation is prepared to depart at the earliest possible moment," and "We look forward to starting working-level talks as soon as possible."

Iran's Tasnim News Agency also reported that the meeting had fallen through, stating that "nothing has been confirmed" regarding the Iranian delegation's visit to Switzerland.

U.S. and Iranian media reported that the setback in the first working-level talks following the signing of the MOU may be due to Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire agreement.

A U.S. government official told the U.S. online media outlet Axios that Iran's claim that Israel violated the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon could be the reason for the cancellation of the Swiss talks.

Al-Mayadeen, a pro-Hezbollah media outlet, also cited sources saying that the Iranian delegation was ready to depart for Switzerland but withheld their visit as Israel's attacks on Lebanon continued.

Article 1 of the ceasefire MOU signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 18 declares "an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon."

For Iran, which had put forward a ceasefire in Lebanon as the top priority for the ceasefire negotiations, Israel's continued offensive could be perceived as a violation of the MOU.

Consequently, observers suggest that if tensions on the Lebanese front are not resolved, it could have a significant impact on the denuclearization and sanctions-relief negotiations scheduled to take place over the next 60 days.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.