U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks are being postponed amid escalating fighting in Lebanon, and the delay could become the longest pause in negotiations so far, according to an analyst interviewed by ABC News.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said in the interview that the conflict in Lebanon is a key factor complicating diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

“This requires that the U.S. put a lot of pressure on Israel,” Parsi said, adding that Iran must also act on Hezbollah.

Parsi described the current pause as potentially the longest delay yet in efforts to restart U.S.-Iran talks, as regional tensions continue to widen.

The Quincy Institute, a foreign policy think tank, has frequently advocated for diplomatic engagement and de-escalation in Middle East conflicts.

Watch the interview here.