BBC: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new round of direct talks between the US and Iran have been postponed after Vice-President JD Vance delayed a planned trip to Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House announced late on Thursday that Vance would not be travelling to the talks and said the logistics had not been “simple or predictable”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It comes a day after the US dropped its naval blockade of Iran after the two countries signed a deal aimed at ending the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the deal also said fighting should end in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed at least 18 people in the south overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israel’s military said it had targeted the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, and that four of its own soldiers had been killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hours before the White House issued its statement, Hezbollah-linked Lebanese media reported that the talks had been suspended due to ongoing Israeli air strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Negotiators had been due to meet for what US officials described as “technical discussions” on the next steps of the agreement signed earlier this week<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Washington said plans for the talks had “not been finalised”. It added that the US looked forward to “beginning technical talks as soon as possible”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Switzerland’s foreign ministry later confirmed the talks at the Burgenstock mountaintop resort had been “postponed”, although it said preparations for talks were continuing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swiss military and police officials had been patrolling the luxury hotel set high on a mountain overlooking Lake Lucerne, and a media centre had been set up for journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The negotiations had been expected to focus on implementing the agreement, which is known as a Memorandum of Understanding, and begin discussions on longer-term issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n