Ekhbary News Agency | May 12, 2026
Washington's swift initiative to commence critical talks with Iran encountered an early obstacle Friday, merely days after a foundational agreement established a two-month window for negotiations. These discussions were intended to address Tehran’s nuclear aspirations and restore oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict volumes. Iranian officials, it's clear, refused to travel to Switzerland as planned, asserting that Israeli strikes targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon must conclude before any dialogue could proceed, according to regional officials and an informed source.
Regional Tensions Derail Diplomacy
The postponement unfolded amidst escalating violence in Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 18 individuals, while four Israeli soldiers perished in southern Lebanon, officials confirmed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that Israel’s military would maintain a presence in a "security zone" in southern Lebanon for as long as "Israel’s security needs require it." Such regional dynamics, for all intents and purposes, consistently complicate broader diplomatic endeavors.
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Statements from US and Iranian Leadership
In Washington, President Donald Trump once more criticized the ongoing situation, referencing the intensified fighting in Lebanon and the stalled nuclear discussions. Trump posted on social media Friday: "We didn't meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED! We'll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!" Vice President JD Vance had prepared for an overnight flight to meet Iranian counterparts at a Swiss mountainside resort to initiate technical talks, but the trip was abruptly called off. Conversely, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, endorsed direct negotiations with the United States, stating, "It is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s opinion."
