ISLAMABAD: US Vice President JD Vance departed Islamabad after high-stakes negotiations with Iran failed to produce an agreement, according to US media reports.
His departure came shortly after he addressed a press conference at the conclusion of the trilateral “Islamabad talks,” which were mediated by Pakistan and lasted nearly 21 hours.Vance stated that while the discussions were “substantive,” they ultimately ended without a deal.
He explained that the United States had clearly outlined its red lines, including areas where it was willing to show flexibility, but said the Iranian delegation chose not to accept the proposed terms. The core sticking point remained Iran’s nuclear programme.
Vance emphasised that Washington was seeking a firm and long-term commitment from Tehran that it would not pursue nuclear weapons or develop the capability to rapidly produce them. However, such assurances were not secured during the talks, leading to the breakdown in negotiations.
Despite the failure to reach an agreement, Vance noted that a wide range of issues were discussed, including sanctions, nuclear policy, regional tensions, and Iran’s frozen financial assets. He described the US delegation as “flexible” and said they had negotiated in good faith under instructions from Donald Trump to make their best effort toward a deal.
He added that US officials remained in constant communication with Trump and other senior leadership throughout the negotiations. While no agreement was reached, Vance said the United States had left behind what it described as its “final and best offer,” leaving the door open for Iran to reconsider.
On the Iranian side, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the success of diplomacy depends on the “seriousness and good faith” of the opposing side. He stressed that progress requires avoiding excessive demands and recognising Iran’s legitimate rights and interests, including sanctions relief and access to its funds.
Iranian officials said discussions covered multiple key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear matters, war reparations, sanctions removal, and a broader end to regional conflict. They described the talks as extensive, involving expert-level exchanges across economic, military, legal, and nuclear domains.
The negotiations took place during a fragile two-week ceasefire in the wider conflict involving the US, Iran, and Israel. The truce, brokered by Pakistan, had temporarily halted weeks of intense fighting across the Middle East. Both sides acknowledged Pakistan’s role as mediator.
Vance praised the Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, for their efforts in facilitating the dialogue, stating that any shortcomings in the negotiations were not due to the hosts. Ahead of the talks, Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with both the US and Iranian delegations, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to helping achieve peace and stability in the region.
The delegations, led by Vance for the US and senior Iranian officials including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi, engaged in multiple rounds of discussions over the course of the negotiations. Despite the diplomatic effort, deep differences remained.
The US pushed for strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities, while Iran demanded sanctions relief, recognition of its nuclear rights, access to frozen assets, and broader regional concessions. These unresolved disagreements ultimately prevented any breakthrough, leaving the situation uncertain and tensions still high.
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