Israel And Hezbollah Ceasefire Hits As Iran Suspends U.S. Talks In Switzerland

Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement Friday to end their fighting in Lebanon, but the truce coincided with violence that CBS News said was a major test of the durability of the U.S.-Iran deal signed by President Trump just two days earlier.

“Vance delays trip to Switzerland to lead new US talks with Iran on its nuclear program The White House says Vice President JD Vance is delaying a trip to Switzerland to lead a new round of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program — raising questions about what’s next for the tentative agreement to end the war WASHINGTON -- The White House said Thursday night that Vice President JD Vance was delaying a trip to Switzerland to lead a new round of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program — raising questions about what's next for the tentative agreement to end the war”

ABC News

Lebanese state media said at least 18 civilians were killed in Israel's deadliest attacks since the U.S. and Iran finalized their agreement, while four soldiers were killed in an attack on a tank, according to CBS News.

ABC News

Talks between Iran and the U.S. expected to begin in Switzerland Friday were suspended, with officials telling The Associated Press and other outlets that Iran had suspended the talks due to the ongoing fighting in Lebanon.

The Guardian reported that the talks were cancelled as Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers and Israel carried out retaliatory airstrikes in south Lebanon and the Bekaa valley that killed at least 18 people and left 33 wounded, according to Lebanon’s ministry of health.

In a Friday phone interview with NBC News, President Trump said he personally asked Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah and called it "a positive," adding it was "little icing on the cake."

Hezbollah and Israel said they would abide by the truce, but CNN reported that officials from the militant group and Israel warned against violations from the other as Lebanese officials said Friday marked the second deadliest day of Israeli strikes during the current conflict.

Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel (Michael) Leiter, said on X that Israel halted all offensive operations at 11:30 a.m. local time and wrote, "At 11:30 this morning, Israel halted all offensive operations; Hezbollah and Iranian claims to the contrary are bold lies."

Al Jazeera

The Guardian said the killing of Israeli soldiers prompted fury within Israel, with national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for scorched earth in Lebanon and declaring, "All of Lebanon must burn."

French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told France Info radio that the Israeli government must respect the ceasefire, saying, "This agreement provides for a cessation of hostilities, the Israeli government must respect it."

In a separate condemnation, Fox News quoted UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper on X describing Ben Gvir’s remark as "horrendous and abhorrent" and calling on both Israel and Hizballah to comply with the agreed ceasefire and protect civilians.

The cancellation of the first round of technical talks in Switzerland left a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent understanding over Iran’s nuclear programme and to get oil traffic moving through the strait of Hormuz, as The Guardian said the MoU opened a 60-day window.

“Planned talks in Switzerland between the United States and Iran to discuss the technical terms of their ceasefire deal have been postponed”

Al Jazeera

CNN reported that the clock was ticking on that 60-day period to reach a final peace deal, and it said the Strait of Hormuz was officially open to commercial shipping traffic following the U.S.-Iran agreement signed on June 17.

CNN also said at least 12 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, including 5 tankers and 7 cargo ships, while noting the complex question of how long it would take de-mine the crucial waterway.

The Guardian said the MoU called for the "permanent termination" of the war in Lebanon and for the country’s "territorial integrity and sovereignty," while NBC News said the interim U.S.-Iran agreement stipulated that all fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, must end immediately.

NPR reported that the memorandum of understanding promises "the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts" and creates a 60-day window for resolving the enmity, while also quoting Iran’s demand that "Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end."