US-Iran peace talks collapse as Switzerland meeting is called off

Vessels seen anchored in Bandar Abbas, along the Strait of Hormuz, on Thursday. PIC/AFP

US and Iranian negotiators scrapped plans to meet in Switzerland on Friday, leading to renewed uncertainty about the timing of talks that would turn a memorandum to end three months of fighting into a more permanent peace deal. Talks could also be complicated by an escalation of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon.

Preparations for technical talks to start in the Swiss mountaintop resort of Buergenstock were far advanced when US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday he had dropped plans to attend. Earlier on Thursday, a sources said Iran's lead negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was not planning to attend.

The interim deal requires the US, Iran and their allies to declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Iran said on Friday that negotiations on a final agreement would depend on the continued implementation of specified terms outlined in the memorandum.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever