By Isabel Saco Bürgenstock, Switzerland, Jun 19 (EFE).- The postponement of the start of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran has placed a new layer of uncertainty on the possibility of this process succeeding and bringing a lasting peace between the two countries. The negotiations have suffered this first setback because southern Lebanon has continued to be the target of attacks on Thursday by Israel, which have caused dozens of deaths and injuries; despite the fact that the ceasefire agreed in the initial memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran includes Lebanese territory. Iranian officials underlined that their delegation suspended its trip to Switzerland at the last minute for this reason and that the US and the mediators in the conflict – Pakistan and Qatar – were informed. All of them were to meet in the tourist resort of Bürgenstock, a secluded village in the Alps that has a location that makes it possible to easily cut access and thus offer optimal security. According to Iranian sources, it was conveyed to the US and to the mediators that the Lebanon issue is «central» to them and that it would decide the fate of the negotiations. Moreover, Tehran also denounced that the Israeli attacks constituted a violation of the first point of the preliminary agreement signed 48 hours earlier. The White House had confirmed that the US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, was ready to leave for Switzerland but ended up suspending the trip, and stressed that such negotiations have never been simple or predictable. In Europe, the stock markets have given a mixed response to this new episode of uncertainty, while it remains to be seen how Wall Street behaves when it opens. Meanwhile, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners urgently called for clarity on practical measures that will allow safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after the first movements of tanks that were stranded in the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman have begun. One of the most sensitive issues is the presence of mines. Although mechanisms have been put in place to resume maritime traffic in the safest manner possible – using a corridor in the Oman area – full security can only be achieved once all such explosive devices are cleared, a task that the memorandum mentions and leaves under the responsibility of Iran. Switzerland, which acts as a «facilitator» of the logistical and diplomatic conditions for these negotiations to take place, maintains its security arrangements around the Bürgenstock resort pending the parties to officially convey their plans. Several international media journalists are in Bürgenstock to cover the event, but they remain blocked by a police checkpoint on the road a few kilometers from the resort. Reporters consulted by EFE have said that they will remain in the area over the weekend in case the negotiations begin. EFE is-abc/sc