The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, leaving a ceasefire under strain and key disputes unresolved.
US Vice President JD Vance said the negotiations ended without progress and confirmed his delegation had returned to Washington. He said Iran rejected core US demands on its nuclear programme.
“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” Vance told reporters before departure.
“We made very clear what our red lines are, and they have chosen not to accept our terms.”
The talks marked the first direct meeting between the two countries in more than a decade. They took place after 44 days of illegal US-Israeli strikes against Iran, that have killed thousands and disrupted global energy flows.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation, blamed Washington for the outcome. He said Iran entered the talks with proposals but did not trust the US position.
“The opposing side ultimately failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation,” he said in a statement. He added that Iran had shown “good faith and will” but cited past wars as a reason for caution.
Iran has been attacked during negotiations twice in the last 9 months, each time the negotiations being used as a ruse, ending in a surprise attack by Israel and the US.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it did not expect a deal in a single round. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the talks as “intensive” and said diplomacy would continue through regional channels.
The main points of dispute included Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz. The US demanded a long-term commitment from Iran not to develop nuclear weapons or the means to produce them.
“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,” Vance said. He described this as the core goal of President Donald Trump.
Iran has denied any intention to build such weapons and rejected what it described as excessive demands. As a signatory to the NPT, Iran is entitled to enrichment for peaceful purposes and has reiterated that it does not accept a foreign country dictating otherwise against international agreements. State-linked media reported that disagreements also covered sanctions, war reparations, and access to frozen assets. The The US has frozen billions of Iranian money for 40 years.
The Strait of Hormuz remained central to the negotiations. The waterway carries about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies. Iran has restricted traffic during the conflict, affecting shipments and raising prices.
Iranian officials said the strait is under their control and signalled that any agreement must address transit rights and fees. US officials have insisted on free passage for international shipping.
Pakistan hosted the talks and urged both sides to maintain the ceasefire agreed before the meeting. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said it was “imperative” that commitments to halt fighting remain in place.
Pakistan also said it would continue to facilitate dialogue. Officials described the meeting as a step in a longer process rather than a final attempt at a settlement.
International reaction showed concern over the lack of progress. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for both sides to “find a way through” and stressed the need to avoid escalation. Australia and other governments issued similar statements.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued breaking the ceasefire and carried out air strikes in southern Lebanon, where casualties have been reported. Local authorities said civilians and medical workers were among those killed. Last week, Israel also attacked journalists in Lebanon and Gaza. Israel is now the biggest killer of journalists in history, with over 200 press representatives killed, the majority of them deliberate targeting of clearly marked cars or people.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported more than 2,000 deaths since early March, including children and medical staff. Displacement has affected large parts of the population.
The conflict has also damaged energy infrastructure across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia said it restored capacity on its East-West pipeline after attacks reduced output by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day.
Iran reported damage to refineries and fuel facilities from strikes during the war. Officials said repair work is underway to restore production levels.
Both US and Iranian officials signalled that further talks remain possible. Vance said a “final and best offer” had been presented to Tehran and left open the option of future engagement.
Iranian sources said consultations with regional partners would continue. “Diplomacy never ends,” Baghaei said in remarks carried by state media.
HT