US Tells Iran Israel Will Not Escalate Lebanon Strikes, as Nuclear Talks Hang in Balance

The Trump administration is trying to salvage nuclear talks with Iran in Switzerland after Tehran demanded guarantees that fighting would stop before the meetings could go ahead. According to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN, the United States sent a direct message to Iran saying Israel will not continue escalating its strikes in Lebanon.

Asked whether Washington would provide guarantees, one source said, "Hezbollah violated the ceasefire. Israel agreed to absorb it, and that message was passed to the Iranians." The same source added, "Now it is up to Hezbollah to stop." The report comes amid heightened regional tension and a push by Washington to calm the situation.

Iran had insisted on assurances that the Lebanon strikes would end before the planned Swiss talks, which were expected to include Vice President J.D. Vance and other senior American officials. Because of the uncertainty, Vance’s departure for Switzerland, originally scheduled for yesterday, was postponed.

The diplomatic effort follows a volatile week. Despite an agreement between the United States and Iran that was supposed to end the conflict across fronts, Hezbollah carried out an attack that killed four IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon. Israel then launched a broad wave of strikes today. A CNN source in Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not planning any further retaliatory action against Hezbollah at this stage, and it remains unclear whether the American message will be enough to satisfy Tehran or set a new date for the talks.