Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome delayed to October according to US official

The next round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome has been delayed until October, a U.S. official said Friday.

Last month, the United States said the next round of talks in the Italian capital would take place in early September.

While the Rome talks will not go ahead as planned, the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors will meet at the State Department in Washington next week ‘‘to discuss ongoing developments and the continued implementation’’ of a framework deal agreed to in June, the official said, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity.

The so-called Trilateral Framework involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to the region, starting in test areas known as ‘‘pilot zones.’’

The U.S. official said Friday that the deal ‘‘remains the only viable mechanism to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and Israel’s security.’’

After the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Hezbollah brought Lebanon into the conflict by launching missiles at Israel.

There had been a lull in violence following an understanding reached between Iran and the United States in June, followed by an agreement between Lebanon and Israel. But strikes have increased in intensity in recent days.

The announcement of the delay comes a day after Israel destroyed tunnels built by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with the massive explosion recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey as the equivalent of a 4.1-magnitude earthquake.

The delay was prompted by several factors that made it impossible for key participants to attend, a source familiar with the planning told AFP.

Those included preparations for the upcoming U.N. General Assembly, Jewish holidays and a Paris conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the source said.