US-Iran talks in Switzerland abruptly called off, as Israel and Hezbollah trade attacks in Lebanon

The Guardian ^ | 06/19/2027 | William Christou in Beirut and Jonathan Yerushalmy

[Responsibility2nd]

JD Vance’s staff were at the airbase ready to fly to summit in Bürgenstock for Iran talks before trip was suddenly cancelled

Talks set to take place on Friday between the US ⁠ ⁠and ​Iran in Switzerland to implement a peace deal were cancelled as Hezbollah targeted Israeli forces and Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes in south Lebanon which killed at least 16 people.

The talks were set to begin in the Swiss village of Obbürgen two days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that opened a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent understanding over Iran’s nuclear programme, while getting oil traffic moving through the strait of Hormuz.

The White House said the US looked forward to “beginning technical talks as soon as possible”, as it announced that JD Vance, who is leading negotiations for the Trump administration, would now not be travelling.

“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 on Thursday.

The cancellation of the talks came as Israel and Hezbollah traded their most violent strikes since the ceasefire was established.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iran

[Celtic Conservative]

People need to understand what a MOU is: It’s an agreement to talk about another, further agreement, nothing more. People are acting like Trump gave away the farm. He’s just trying to tamp down the volatility in the oil markets ahead of the midterms. I think he’s savvy enough to know the Iranians are gonna tear right through it. It’s just “diplomacy”, which is the act of saying “nice doggie” whilst reaching for a baseball bat.

CC

[Texas Eagle]

Talks? I thought the jawin’ was done. I thought this was a signing ceremony. Were we still “talking” to Japan in the days leading up to the signing ceremony of their surrender on The USS Missouri ending World War Eleven?

[ScaniaBoy]

No, unfortunately CC is right.

Very much like Japan in 1945 Iran has been militarily defeated, but unlike Japan then, the Iranian junta now has not been brought to its knees. The IRGC and the mullahs are ready to sacrifice its population, just like the Japanese were ready to do prior to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Since the US is not prepared to go to the same lengths as it did in 1945, for some time there will be a lull in hostilities - though the IRGC will use its proxies to attack Israel and maybe some of the Gulf states.

The one imponderable is whether the Iranian people (with the clandestine assistance of the US, the Gulf states, and Israel) will rise up against its oppressors and overthrow them.

Personally I don't think the chance is very large for that to happen, although after the defeat of the IRGC defence forces and maybe even more important the further erosion of the Iranian economy, the possibility has never been as large as now.

[RoosterRedux]

Well said.

[yldstrk]

Apparantly the Ircg is being fought against in Iran. Iran is breaking in two—close to civil war. Eating itself. Economy in freefall. Sixty days should do it.