Report: Iran Delays U.S. Peace Talks Over Israeli Attacks in Lebanon

Source: Maritime Executive

On Thursday, U.S. Central Command confirmed that it has officially lifted the American blockade on Iranian seaports, and is allowing all Iranian trade to pass freely in accordance with the new U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. Simultaneously, Iranian negotiators have reportedly suspended plans to attend the next round of talks in Switzerland because of ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, throwing the new MOU into doubt just as it enters into force.

Iranian outlet Fars reports that Tehran has decided to put the core element of the MOU - a 60-day negotiating period on a broad portfolio of subjects, including the Iranian nuclear program - on hold. Its rationale is an alleged breach of the deal's first paragraph: Iran secured a pledge from the U.S. that the ceasefire would include a halt to all hostilities, including Israeli hostilities in Lebanon against Iranian proxy group Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Israel continues to strike targets in southern Lebanon, including attacks on Thursday in Kfar Tebnit and Zabadin that resulted in three deaths.

Iran considers these Israeli strikes a violation of the entire MOU - but Israel is not a party to the agreement, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to be bound by a deal that he believes is not in his nation's interests. In the MOU's text, peace in Lebanon is part of the American end of the bargain; delivering it will require the U.S. to convince Israel to alter its military strategy.

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