The U.S. drive to launch high-stakes peace talks with Iran hit a snag Friday after Tehran reportedly delayed sending its delegation to Switzerland for the negotiations citing Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon for its absence. The talks, set for the mountaintop resort of Burgenstock, would not take place, Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed, but gave no details. Tehran did later set out the reasons citing military activity in southern Lebanon as Israel continues to exercise its right to self defense in the face of unceasing Hezbollah terrorist attacks. As Breitbart News reported, the White House had earlier confirmed Vice President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland in response to Iran’s tardiness to follow through on its commitments. He and his team were literally standing on the tarmac ready to board their flight when news came of the Iran no-show. Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language spokesman for the Israeli military, said on Thursday that Israeli forces “struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets across various areas of Lebanon, including the Bekaa Valley and Nabatieh.” “Hezbollah violated the cease-fire in an attempt to prevent our forces from completing the destruction of capabilities it had built over many years, and we responded with force,” Adraee said. The Iran-backed terrorists of Hezbollah insisted they had not “violated the cease-fire,” instead accusing Israel of “intensifying their cease-fire violations..." Later on Thursday evening, Hezbollah admitted attacking Israeli units as they were advancing on a hill south of Nabatieh. The Israeli military said four of its soldiers were killed in the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israeli forces will “remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect communities in the north.” Netanyahu said more than 80 Hezbollah targets were struck, a number Adraee’s statement increased to 100. Later on Friday, Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “struck powerfully 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and eliminated dozens of terrorists.” US Vice President JD Vance excoriated Israeli critics of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), warning Thursday, "I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world." Speaking to reporters from the White House, Vance said that President Donald Trump was "the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," and chastised Israeli cabinet members that the majority of the Jewish State's defensive weapons were provided through US funding. "The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the President of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that the country is in," Vance said. However, the vice president asserted that Israel still has the right to defend itself regarding the ceasefire with Lebanon. Hamas, the Iranian-backed group responsible for the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, is openly calling to escalate attacks against Israel and signaling its intention to shift the center of its jihad (holy war) from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank. To Hamas and the rest of Iran's "Axis of Resistance," the prospect of a "deal" between Washington and Tehran is not being interpreted as a sign of American strength. It is being viewed as a sign of America's weakness and a victory for the Iranian regime -- which the US defeated -- and proof that the US is eager to end conflicts at virtually any price. Unlike the Gaza Strip, the mountainous terrain of the West Bank is high ground. It overlooks the low broad plain along the Mediterranean coast that is home to Israel's most densely populated areas. Major Israeli cities, Ben-Gurion International Airport, and critical infrastructure are within easy range of terrorists operating from the hills: one can comfortably look down over all of central Israel. Unlike in the Gaza Strip, there are hundreds of thousands of Israelis who live in the West Bank -- easy targets for the terrorists. https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22629/iran-deal-emboldened-hamas Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland on Sunday morning for the first direct U.S.-Iran talks since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The negotiations will play out against a backdrop of rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and renewed fighting between the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group and Israel threatened to upend the fragile diplomatic process. Speaking before departing, Vance said the talks would focus on advancing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and shoring up the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, where escalating violence forced the postponement of the discussions from Friday. “I think we’re going to hopefully make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the Lebanon ceasefire issue,” Vance told reporters. “Those are the two big things that I think we’re going to be focused on.” Iran said Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, accusing the United States of failing to uphold commitments contained in the memorandum of understanding, which calls for the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The United States quickly disputed Iran’s claim that it had effectively shut the strategic waterway. “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case,” U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said.
Tardy Iran No-Show Abruptly Nixes Peace Deal Signing in Switzerland:
Israel Announces over 100 Strikes on Lebanon as Iran Cancels Switzerland Talks:
Vance: Israel should not attack its only powerful ally left, must abide by peace in Lebanon:
Trump's Iran 'Deal' Has Already Emboldened Hamas:
Vance Lands in Switzerland for Iran Talks as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Boil: