High-stakes talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad ended without an agreement after 21 hours of negotiations, marking another setback in efforts to ease regional tensions.
US Vice President JD Vance, who led Washington’s delegation, said Tehran had refused to accept the terms presented by the United States during the talks.
“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,”
JD Vance said.
Vance added that Washington is seeking a clear and binding commitment from Tehran that it will neither develop nuclear weapons nor pursue the means to build them quickly.
“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,”
JD Vance also said.
The talks took place during a fragile ceasefire in the six-week conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, increasing the diplomatic significance of the meeting.
Despite Vance’s departure from Islamabad, observers noted that his exit does not necessarily signal the collapse of negotiations.
Analysts said discussions may continue through remote diplomatic channels as both sides attempt to narrow long-standing divisions.
Key sticking points reportedly included Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz and unresolved concerns surrounding its nuclear programme.
Iranian officials stressed that they never expected a final agreement to be reached in the first round of talks.
“Naturally, from the beginning, we should not have expected to reach an agreement in a single session. No one had such an expectation,”
Esmaeil Baghaei said.
Tehran indicated that communication with Pakistan and regional partners would continue as diplomatic efforts move forward.
Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran had presented proposals focused on future stability but remained unconvinced by the American position.
“The US has understood Iran’s logic and principles, and it’s time for them to decide whether they can earn our trust or not,”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.
Iranian officials are reportedly seeking broader guarantees, including access to frozen overseas assets, security assurances, and regional ceasefire commitments.
The question of Lebanon has also emerged as a major point of dispute, with Israel refusing to halt operations against Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said military operations against Iran and its allies would continue.
“Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime and its proxies,”
Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Pakistan, which hosted the talks, urged both nations to maintain the ceasefire and continue pursuing a long-term settlement.
“We hope that the two sides continue with a positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond,”
Ishaq Dar said.
The failure to secure a breakthrough has intensified concerns over global energy markets as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten oil and gas supplies.
Diplomatic sources said the absence of trust remains the biggest obstacle, with both sides carrying the weight of failed agreements and past conflicts into the current negotiations.
With military actions still continuing in Lebanon and regional instability persisting, the next round of diplomacy will be closely watched by global markets and political leaders alike.