ISLAMABAD — The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement Sunday after 21 hours of negotiations in Pakistan’s capital, leaving a two-week ceasefire in place but without a broader deal to end their ongoing conflict.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said the talks ended without agreement after Iran did not accept U.S. terms, including commitments related to its nuclear program.
Vance said the United States sought assurances that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons or the capability to do so, describing the issue as the central objective of the negotiations.
Iranian officials said U.S. demands prevented a deal, with state-affiliated media reporting disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz. A foreign ministry spokesperson said the talks took place amid mutual mistrust and said a single round of negotiations was unlikely to produce an agreement.
Delegations from both countries departed Islamabad following the talks, according to Pakistani sources.
The negotiations marked the first direct meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in more than a decade and the highest-level contact since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said maintaining the ceasefire remains necessary as both sides continue efforts to reduce hostilities in a conflict that began on Feb. 28.
The war has disrupted global energy markets, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas. While some oil tankers transited the strait during the ceasefire, many vessels remain in the region awaiting safe passage.
Iran has sought conditions including access to frozen financial assets, control measures in the Strait of Hormuz, and broader regional ceasefire terms. U.S. officials have said their priorities include securing open shipping lanes and limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Fighting linked to the conflict has continued in parts of the region, including Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, according to military statements.
Officials from both sides indicated that further talks remain possible, though no new timeline has been announced.
