Iran-US Negotiations in Islamabad Conclude Without Agreement

The recent negotiations between Iran and the United States in Islamabad concluded after 21 hours without any agreement. The Iranian Foreign Ministry cited the US's excessive demands as a key barrier to progress, particularly regarding issues like the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear rights. US Vice President JD Vance expressed disappointment over the lack of consensus, emphasizing the need for long-term commitments from Iran. As conflicting reports emerge about the future of these talks, the situation remains tense and unresolved.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 12, 2026, 08:33 IST

Negotiations End Without Progress

After an extensive 21-hour discussion, the talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad have concluded without achieving any significant progress. The Iranian Foreign Ministry indicated that the United States' "excessive demands" hindered the establishment of a mutual framework. Key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear rights were among the contentious topics, as reported by Iranian state media. According to Fars news agency, which cited a source close to the Iranian delegation, the US sought to secure "everything they couldn't obtain" during the ongoing conflict. The agency noted that Iran rejected the US's ambitious conditions regarding the Strait of Hormuz and peaceful nuclear energy, among other matters.

A source familiar with the Iranian delegation also mentioned that the US appeared to be searching for a reason to exit the negotiations. This source, as reported by Al Jazeera, stated, "Americans needed the negotiation for their lost face in the international arena and were unwilling to lower their expectations despite the defeat and stalemate in the war with Iran." Furthermore, it was noted that Iran has no immediate plans for future discussions.

US Position on the Talks

US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, stated that the negotiators had clearly communicated their stance, but Tehran was unwilling to accept the proposed terms. He cautioned that Iran's refusal to agree to Washington’s conditions would have more severe consequences for Iran than for the United States. Vance remarked, "We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement."

He emphasized that the US was looking for long-term guarantees from Tehran rather than temporary commitments. "Do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term? We haven't seen that yet. We hope that we will," Vance stated.

Despite the unsuccessful negotiations, the Vice President characterized the US approach as flexible and conducted in good faith, following the President's instructions. "I think that we were quite flexible. We were quite accommodating. The President told us, You need to come here in good faith and make your best effort to get a deal. We did that, and unfortunately, we weren't able to make headway," he explained. While Vance has departed Islamabad, there are conflicting reports regarding the continuation of US-Iran discussions.