Talks between the U.S. and Iran were called off on Friday after intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, three officials said, raising questions on a nascent agreement to finish the war in Iran.
Iranian officials didn’t travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that the fighting in Lebanon must stop before the talks can happen, in response to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to debate the continuing mediation to attempt to get the talks rescheduled. U.S. Vice President JD Vance also cancelled his trip.
Israel’s military struck targets in southern and eastern Lebanon overnight, and Hezbollah reported intense fighting. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at the very least 21 people were killed, and Israel said 4 soldiers died.
The conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah is probably the most precarious a part of the Iran deal. Neither Israel nor the militant group signed the agreement — nevertheless it is speculated to end their fighting, and Iran has signaled its willingness to risk renewed war within the region for the sake of its interests in Lebanon and its most vital regional ally.
Mediators are actually scrambling to reschedule the meetings, which were speculated to begin addressing the way to restrict Iran’s nuclear program — the core issue over which Israel and the U.S. went to war on Feb. 28.
The talks are also speculated to bring a few everlasting end to the conflict. The interim deal has already reopened the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, after Iranian attacks and threats all but stopped the flow of oil and natural gas through the waterway. A brand new Iranian authority charged with overseeing the strait issued guidance Friday calling on ships to register with it whilst transits are currently free — signaling Tehran’s intent to likely start charging.
Related Videos
The fighting in Lebanon could unravel the deal
The Israeli military said strikes were ongoing on Friday after 4 of its soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, were killed in an attack on a tank in a village near the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh. An explosive drone attack wounded one other five, it added.
Israel then launched multiple strikes against “Hezbollah infrastructure sites” in Nabatiyeh and other areas, in response to a military statement, which accused the militant group of “blatant ceasefire violations.”
Get breaking National news
Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox because it happens so you will not miss a trending story.
Later, the military said it also struck targets within the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, with Lebanese media saying the village of Douris was hit.
“Israel won’t tolerate attacks on our soldiers or on our territory, and it is going to exact a really heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” Netanyahu said in a press release Friday.
Hezbollah acknowledged targeting Israeli tanks and said its attacks were in response to what it called Israel’s own violation of the ceasefire. It said the attacks got here after Israeli forces attempted to achieve the northern side of Ali al-Taher hilltop, a strategic point that overlooks Nabatiyeh and that Israeli troops have been attempting to capture.
In southern Lebanon, many were forced to flee their villages resulting from the Israeli attacks.
“The situation is lawless, we couldn’t stay,” said Mustafa Zain, who had his six daughters in a pickup truck as he was leaving Akaar through Tyre.
The fighting threatens to unravel the newly signed deal. Beyond ending the hostilities in Lebanon, the agreement calls for ensuring Lebanon’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
It doesn’t say whether which means Israel would withdraw from the big swaths of southern Lebanon it has occupied since Hezbollah joined the war in its early days by firing rockets and drones at northern Israel.
Iran has insisted Israel pull back, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that forces would remain in a “security zone” of southern Lebanon so long as “Israel’s security needs require it.”
Israel’s actions in Lebanon have created a rift between Israel and the U.S., with Trump becoming increasingly critical of his close ally Netanyahu. Netanyahu can be facing increasing criticism at home — and from other quarters.
Talks in Switzerland were postponed
Tehran is insisting that Israel’s attacks in Lebanon stop before they send a delegation to Switzerland, in response to the officials.
The White House, nonetheless, blamed logistical issues when Vance postpone his trip.
Two other regional officials, similarly speaking on condition of anonymity for a similar reason, described Pakistan as being “stunned” by Iran’s decision to not go to the talks.
Much stays to be resolved
The discussions in Switzerland are expected to concentrate on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran maintains it’s peaceful, though it has highly enriched uranium that might be used to construct multiple atomic bombs, should it decide to achieve this, in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Those talks are expected to be extremely difficult. The 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump scrapped during his first term, took greater than 18 months to barter.
The interim deal gives negotiators 60 days to provide you with a nuclear agreement but that may be prolonged. It outlines lucrative incentives if Iran does reach a brand new agreement, including the eventual lifting of all international sanctions and a US$300 billion fund for postwar reconstruction.
Already Iran has won some concessions. Following the signing of the interim deal, the U.S. lifted its blockade of Iran’s ports and is allowing it to sell its oil freely. The deal also calls for Iran’s assets to be unfrozen — though it’s not clear how quickly.
Oil tankers began freely moving through the Strait of Hormuz this week after months of being unable to make use of the critical channel. Greater than 12.5 million barrels of oil were shipped through the waterway on Wednesday night, the U.S. said.
Still, it is anticipated to take weeks or months for the traditional flow of oil and gas to resume, even when traffic fully resumes within the strait.
© 2026 The Canadian Press