Talks between the United States and Iran to end the ongoing Middle East conflict ended without a breakthrough on Sunday, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance said no agreement had been reached after marathon negotiations in Islamabad.
Speaking after more than 20 hours of discussions, Vance said Washington had presented Tehran with what he described as its “final and best offer,” but noted that the United States had yet to secure a key commitment from Iran to abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, blamed the deadlock on what it called “unreasonable demands” from the American side, although officials acknowledged that reaching a comprehensive deal in a single round of talks after weeks of conflict was unlikely.
The negotiations, hosted by Pakistan, were the highest-level engagement between both sides since the 1979 Iranian revolution.
Pakistani authorities, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urged both countries to continue dialogue and maintain the fragile ceasefire agreed earlier.
Key disagreements during the talks centred on Iran’s nuclear programme, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and broader regional tensions, including the ongoing conflict involving Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Tehran has also demanded the unfreezing of its assets and relief from international sanctions, conditions Washington has not accepted.
U.S. President Donald Trump maintained a firm stance during the talks, insisting that the United States had already achieved military success in the conflict and warning that further action remained an option if diplomacy failed.
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to heighten uncertainty, with Washington saying it has deployed naval assets to clear mines and ensure safe passage for commercial shipping.
Iran has denied the presence of U.S. warships in the waterway and warned it would respond to any perceived incursion.
The conflict, which began on February 28 following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, has since expanded across the region, with ongoing hostilities in Lebanon contributing to a rising death toll and worsening humanitarian conditions.
Despite the lack of agreement, Vance said the United States would allow time for Iran to consider its proposal, while Pakistan reiterated its commitment to facilitating further engagement between both sides as efforts to reach a ceasefire continue.
