U.S. Push to Get Iran Talks Started Hits an Early Bump

UNITED STATES – The American push to quickly begin high-stakes talks with Iran hit a snag on Friday, just days after the signing of an agreement that opens a two-month window for negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program, and returning oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to prewar levels.

Iranian officials did not travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that Israeli strikes on Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon must stop before the talks can take place.

The situation was fluid as Israel and Hezbollah agreed on Friday to renew their ceasefire, according to a U.S. official and regional officials.

It remains to be seen whether the ceasefire could help put the U.S.-Iran talks back on track.