US and Iran fail to reach a deal after marathon talks in Pakistan

High-stakes diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran have ended without a breakthrough after more than 21 hours of intense negotiations held in Islamabad.

Leading the US delegation, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that no agreement was reached, stating that Tehran refused to accept Washington’s key terms. Speaking to reporters shortly before departing Islamabad, Vance described the outcome as a setback, particularly for Iran.

“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” he said, following what has been described as the highest-level engagement between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

According to Vance, the central issue remains Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He stressed that the US is seeking a firm and verifiable commitment from Tehran that it will neither develop nuclear weapons nor pursue the capabilities required to produce them.

“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” he stated.

Despite the breakdown in talks, analysts suggest negotiations may not be entirely over. Reporting from Washington, Al Jazeera correspondent John Hendren noted that the presence of President Donald Trump’s vice president at the talks signals the seriousness with which the US approached the discussions.

Hendren added that Vance’s departure does not necessarily signal the end of diplomacy, as negotiations could continue through indirect or remote channels. He identified key sticking points as Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz and persistent disagreements over nuclear restrictions.

The US position, he explained, goes beyond preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons—it also seeks to block Tehran from acquiring any technology that could enable rapid development of such weapons. This stance has complicated negotiations, echoing the prolonged and difficult discussions that led to the 2015 nuclear agreement.

On the Iranian side, officials have downplayed expectations of an immediate deal. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that it was unrealistic to expect a comprehensive agreement from a single round of talks.

“No one had such an expectation,” Baghaei said, adding that diplomatic contacts would continue with regional partners, including Pakistan, which played a mediating role in hosting the negotiations.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi said Iranian authorities have remained tight-lipped about the technical details of the disagreements. However, he noted that unlike previous negotiations focused primarily on nuclear issues, the current talks have expanded to include broader geopolitical concerns.

These include regional security arrangements, economic demands, and control over strategic routes. Among Iran’s reported demands are the release of frozen assets abroad, recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations, and a ceasefire across regional conflict zones, including Lebanon.

However, tensions remain high, particularly involving Israel, a key US ally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel’s military operations against Iran and its allies will continue.

“Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime and its proxies,” Netanyahu stated, rejecting calls for a broader ceasefire that would include the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, diplomatic signals suggest that backchannel discussions may still be ongoing. Reports indicate that Yechiel Leiter has held preliminary talks with Lebanon’s envoy in Washington, though Israel has ruled out any ceasefire agreement involving Hezbollah at this stage.

Amid the diplomatic stalemate, Pakistan has urged both sides to maintain dialogue and uphold ceasefire commitments. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar praised both delegations for engaging in talks and encouraged continued efforts toward lasting peace.

Observers note that deep mistrust continues to hinder progress. According to Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid, Iran has not indicated any willingness to fully abandon its nuclear programme, even for civilian or medical purposes, while the US is pushing for near-total restrictions.

“There is a sea of mistrust that they are trying to build bridges over,” he said, warning that ultimatums could further complicate diplomacy.

The failed talks come against the backdrop of a wider regional conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. The conflict has since escalated across the Middle East, with retaliatory strikes by Tehran targeting Israel and US-linked assets in Gulf countries.

The war has resulted in more than 2,000 deaths and widespread destruction of both military and civilian infrastructure. It has also triggered a global energy crisis, largely due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply passes.

The current tensions have revived memories of the 2015 nuclear agreement between the US and Iran, which was later abandoned during President Trump’s first term. Despite multiple attempts at diplomacy, including mediation efforts by Oman, a lasting resolution remains elusive.

As negotiations stall and military tensions persist, the future of US-Iran relations—and broader stability in the Middle East—remains highly uncertain.