US-Iran talks in Switzerland postponed; Israel strikes Hezbollah in Lebanon

Data and intelligence company Kpler said Friday that it has observed a “notable increase in daily maritime activity” in the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of a memorandum between the U.S. and Iran. 

“Verified Strait of Hormuz crossings reached 25” on Thursday, it wrote on X, “marking a notable increase in daily maritime activity.” 

“Traffic was evenly distributed across both directions, with most vessels following established Iranian route patterns. Five sanctioned vessels were recorded among the crossings, while no additional physical attacks have been confirmed since May [10],” it added. 

“The latest figures coincide with discussions surrounding the implementation phase of the US-Iran 60-day memorandum framework, which aims to preserve the ceasefire, support navigation through the Strait and facilitate broader negotiations,” Kpler said. 

Kpler also said while the “uptick points to improving operating conditions, unresolved implementation details and continued dark crossings indicate a continued elevated degree of caution with ship operators.” 

China’s foreign ministry said Friday that it sees a new “dawn of peace” in the Middle East following the signing of a memorandum between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending the war. 

It described how China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by telephone Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. 

“Wang Yi said that China welcomes the signing of the first-phase MoU between Iran and the U.S.,” and “Facts have proved that force and power cannot solve problems, and dialogue and negotiation are the correct choices,” according to the ministry. 

“The dawn of peace has emerged, and the key to the next step is for all parties to truly implement their commitments and eliminate various distractions,” it added. “The issue of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should be properly addressed and the common concerns of the international community should be appropriately responded to.” 

A proposed $300 billion investment fund for Iran included in the U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding may face major legal obstacles under existing U.S. sanctions law, raising questions about whether the plan is workable even if both sides move toward a final agreement.

The memorandum, digitally signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, is aimed at ending the war and restoring traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. As part of the 14-point plan, the U.S. agreed to lift sanctions on Iran, allow Tehran to increase its oil revenue and regain access to parts of the international banking system, among other measures.

But one of the most ambitious parts of the framework — a proposed $300 billion private investment fund for Iran’s reconstruction and development — may collide with a longstanding U.S. determination that Iran’s construction sector is controlled directly or indirectly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The issue is not just technical. It goes to whether one of the central economic promises of the Trump-Iran framework can realistically be executed under current U.S. law. If the $300 billion fund depends on investment in sectors Washington has already identified as IRGC-controlled, experts say the administration may be forced to rely on temporary waivers or new licenses — a legal structure that could make long-term investors wary and complicate any final deal.

The State Department formally determined in 2020, and again in May 2025, that Iran’s construction sector was controlled directly or indirectly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, known as IFCA, that finding creates sanctions risks for people or companies doing business in the sector.

Miad Maleki, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control executive, told Fox News Digital that the legal and sanctions-related problems surrounding the fund are more complicated than simply asking whether Congress would have to approve it.

"I think Congress is unavoidable for a durable version of that investment," Maleki said. "If we have a final deal and now as part of this commitment, the U.S. government and allies are going to have to go in and help Iran to set up this fund or get access to such a fund."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday that the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon will pay a “very heavy price” for attacks on Israeli soldiers and territory. 

The remark comes after the Israel Defense Forces said four of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon. 

"I send heartfelt condolences to the families of the Commander of the Armored Corps 52nd Battalion, Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, and of three heroic fighters whose names have not yet been cleared for publication, may God avenge their blood,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “I also wish a speedy recovery to the wounded in the exchanges of fire yesterday.” 

“My directive is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” Netanyahu added. “The IDF will act to thwart any threat to our forces and our territory.” 

Fox News’ Yonat Friling contributed to this post.

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that it struck more than 80 Hezbollah targets and eliminated dozens of Hezbollah terrorists after four Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon. 

“A short while ago, in response to the repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organization, the IDF struck two Hezbollah command centers in the Beqaa Valley, while Hezbollah terrorists were operating inside,” the IDF said in a statement.  

“Overnight, the IDF struck more than 80 command centers, terrorists, launch positions, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites in the area of Nabatieh and additional areas in southern Lebanon, within the Security Zone and beyond it,” the IDF added. “Furthermore, during the strikes, dozens of Hezbollah terrorists operating in the command centers were eliminated.” 

The IDF said earlier Friday that four Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon on Friday, including a battalion commander.   

The deaths were confirmed after an Israeli military tank was struck by a suspicious target, according to an IDF official. 

Fox News’ Yonat Friling contributed to this post. 

Vice President JD Vance scrapped plans to travel to Switzerland on Friday for the next round of U.S.-Iran talks, the White House confirmed Thursday night, highlighting ongoing uncertainty over the timing and logistics of the negotiations with Tehran.

“As the vice president said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U.S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity,” the spokesperson said.

“But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president is not departing tonight,” they added.

“We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”

The remarks came in the wake of a newly signed memorandum of understanding, with negotiators originally planning to finalize a deal between the U.S. and Iran within 60 days.