Iran war: Switzerland talks called off, Vance stays in US

A ship owned by a Japanese company with three Japanese crewmembers managed to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after being stuck in the region due to the fighting between the US and Iran.

The vessel is an oil tanker sailing under a Liberian flag, and is currently sailing towards Japan. 

With the tanker’s exit, all vessels linked to Japan and having Japanese sailors onboard have evacuated the Gulf, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

“In light of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, the Government of Japan will continue to make every diplomatic effort towards the swift reestablishment of free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” the Japanese diplomats said.

Until last night sources were telling us US-Iran talks would be going ahead in Switzerland, with a question mark over exactly when.

But this morning we woke up not only to views of Swiss mountains so high they’re still snow-capped when the June sun feels baking at street level — but news from DC that JD Vance has cancelled his trip, for now at least.

The postponement is not a surprise in this week of diplomatic twists and turns. Ceremony, no ceremony — talks, no talks — will they, won’t they? There’s been a litany of mixed messages.

Qatari and Pakistani mediators remain ready to host talks — at a technical or high level. And Switzerland says “relevant preparatory work” is continuing at the Qatari-owned mountain resort which was due to host talks.

You’ve heard about the fog of war — undoubtedly more dangerous. But this is the fog of potential peace talks — and the stakes are still high.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the country to “go berserk” after the IDF reported four Israeli soldiers were killed in Lebanon.

“For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn!” the far-right politician said in an online post.

Lebanon has emerged as a key flashpoint as Washington hopes to wrap up the Iran war, while Israel insists on keeping troops in the neighboring country and pursuing their offensive against Hezbollah. Just hours before Ben Gvir’s post, Lebanon’s state-run NNA agency reported 16 people killed in the Israeli strikes overnight.

“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not not up for bargaining.” Ben Gvir wrote on Friday.

“In the Middle East, you don’t win with measured responses and restraint — you need to go berserk.”

With fighting in Lebanon intensifying, Israel has reported four of its soldiers were killed in the clashes, the first confirmed deaths since the US and Iran announced a peace deal last weekend.

One of the soldiers was a lieutenant colonel, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel is currently controlling parts of Lebanon, with the proclaimed goal of neutralizing the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia. 

The fledgling peace deal between Washington and Tehran calls for the end of fighting in Lebanon and for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected. But Israel is not a party to the deal and has rejected the calls to withdraw.

Also on Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel ​Barrot urged the US to put pressure on Israel to halt its offensive in Lebanon. According to Barrot, Paris is working to organize an international conference which would provide support to the Lebanese army.

At least 16 people in Lebanon were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight, Lebanese state-run news agency NNA reported on Friday morning.

The report described the attacks on multiple towns as among the heaviest bombardment in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said they were responding to ceasefire violations from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Israel, the US, Germany and many other nations consider Hezbollah a terrorist group. 

“During the night, the army struck and continues to strike Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement.

Amid fragile peace negotiations between the US and Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces will not withdraw from Lebanon until the Hezbollah threat is neutralized.

The scheduled meeting between the US and Iranian officials are “postponed” and will not be taking place on Friday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry has said, after US President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland.

 “Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks,” Swiss diplomats said, adding that “preparatory work” was continuing.

Previously, the Swiss government said the summit will be held at the luxurious mountaintop resort of Bürgenstock, in the Swiss Alps. 

The president of the US and Iran, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding without meeting in person.

Tehran was also delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland, according to Al Mayadeen, a pan-Arab Iran-backed, pro-Hezbollah satellite channel.

The news outlet said this was due to Israel continuing its campaign in Lebanon.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran foresees “permanent termination” of the fighting in Lebanon and calls for respecting the country’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

But Israel is not a party to the peace deal and has stated it has no intention of ending its offensive against the Hezbollah militia. Israeli forces control parts of Lebanon and have launched airstrikes on targets inside the country on Thursday. On Friday, Hezbollah said it destroyed three Israeli tanks.

Israel’s opposition to the peace deal and the prolonged fighting in Lebanon have triggered a public rift between the Trump administration and the Israeli government.

US Vice President JD Vance has postponed his trip to Switzerland where he was going to meet Iranian negotiators to discuss the implementation of the 14-point agreement reached between Washington and Tehran to end the war.

The team led by Vance had been ready to leave but was pushed back, the White House said, citing difficult logistics for negotiations.

“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight,” a White House spokesperson said late Thursday. “We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”

US officials wanted to hold a formal signing ceremony for the US-Iran agreement in Geneva, but Iran’s Foreign Ministry cast doubt on that, saying it was unnecessary after both countries’ presidents signed the agreement on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s signing of the deal extended the ceasefire for 60 days and opened up the pathway to negotiate on wider issues including Iran’s nuclear program.

But there has been uncertainty over the next steps as it appeared unlikely that the two countries would hold a signing ceremony and talks in Switzerland on Friday as previously announced.

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an initial agreement to extend the ceasefire for another 60 days and open the Strait of Hormuz.

The deal between Iran and the US was mediated by Pakistan. 

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who acted as a key mediator, said the deal entered into force with “immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance was expected to fly to Switzerland to advance talks with Iran over its nuclear program, however, his trip has been postponed.

Stay tuned for the latest developments on the Iran war.