US Vice President JD Vance announced that talks between the United States and Iran ended without any agreement. Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday, Vance said Iran refused to accept American terms.
The high-level negotiations lasted around 21 hours. Vance said the US team entered the talks with goodwill and showed flexibility on several points. However, the main sticking point was Iran’s nuclear programme. The United States demanded a clear commitment that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons or the tools to build them quickly. Iran did not agree to this condition.
Vance told reporters: “We just could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms.” He added that Washington presented its “final and best offer” before leaving. The US delegation is now returning home without a deal.
The talks in Islamabad were the highest-level direct face-to-face discussions between the two countries in decades. They aimed to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement. Issues discussed included Iran’s frozen assets, sanctions relief, and control of the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global oil trade.
Vance noted that the failure was “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States.” He kept the door open for future talks if Iran changes its position.
Iranian officials have described the US demands as “excessive.” They said the negotiations were intensive but blamed Washington for unrealistic requests.
The collapse of the talks leaves uncertainty over the ceasefire. Regional tensions remain high, and analysts fear the conflict could restart if no new agreement is reached soon.
Pakistan played an important role as host and mediator. The development has drawn global attention because any renewed fighting could affect oil prices and stability in the Middle East.
