Trump charges Meloni again for "not being there to defend us" against Iran

The United States and Iran abruptly canceled planned talks scheduled for Friday regarding the implementation of their 14-point agreement aimed at ending the war, according to confirmation from Switzerland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These negotiations were set to take place in the small Swiss village of Obbürgen, just two days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding that established a 60-day window for negotiating a permanent agreement on Iran's nuclear program while resuming oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the discussions were called off suddenly, leaving many questions about the future of the diplomatic process.

The U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, who heads the negotiations on behalf of the Trump administration, was reportedly unable to travel to Europe due to logistical issues. According to reports from Washington, the logistics of such negotiations have always been complex and unpredictable, and officials avoided confirming a new departure date, stating they would provide updates when available. Earlier, Vance had indicated there was a possibility he might travel to Switzerland over the weekend to begin technical talks with Iran. In his comments, he emphasized that the negotiation plan required the participation of political leaders from both countries.

Before the cancellation, dozens of White House officials, advance teams, and journalists had already arrived in Switzerland in preparation for Vance's arrival. On Thursday, prior to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei approving the memorandum, Iranian state media suggested that negotiators needed visible signs that the U.S. was implementing the agreement before proceeding with further rounds of talks. There was also uncertainty about whether the Iranian delegation would travel to Geneva. However, the cancellation became concrete following a report by the television channel Al-Mayadeen, which is politically aligned with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. This report claimed that Tehran was delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland because Israeli military operations continued in Lebanon.

According to the 14-point memorandum between Iran and the U.S., one of the requirements is the “definitive cessation” of the war in Lebanon and ensuring the country's “territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Despite this, Israel has continued its attacks against Hezbollah on Lebanese soil, launching new air strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday. This ongoing conflict appears to complicate the conditions necessary for the resumption of formal negotiations.

In a separate development, former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed an agreement with Iran, expressing his approval publicly. His remarks came as part of a broader effort to highlight achievements during his time in office. Meanwhile, Trump renewed his criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of failing to support the U.S. in its stance against Iran. Specifically, he criticized Italy for refusing to allow American use of its airbases to attack Iran. Trump argued that despite billions spent on NATO, Italy did not consider engaging with Iran's serious nuclear threat.

Meloni responded to Trump's accusations by stating that his popularity was none of her concern and advised him to focus on improving his own standing. She rejected the notion that Italy should be drawn into direct confrontation with Iran and emphasized the importance of maintaining Western unity. Meloni expressed frustration with Trump's repeated criticisms, calling them unnecessary and lacking in purpose. She concluded by indicating she would not return to the issue, reaffirming her belief in Western solidarity and rejecting the idea that such exchanges were appropriate for the responsibilities of leadership.