Agencies | Islamabad: High-stakes ceasefire and nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran ended without a breakthrough, with US Vice President JD Vance confirming that he is returning home “without an agreement” after nearly 21 hours of intense discussions in Islamabad.
Addressing the media after the marathon talks, Vance said the US had presented its “final and best offer” to Tehran, but the Iranian delegation declined to accept the terms. “We leave here with a very simple proposal—our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” he stated, adding that the negotiating team remained in constant contact with President Donald Trump throughout the process.
While describing the discussions as substantive and conducted in good faith, Vance acknowledged that no tangible outcome was achieved. “We’ve been at it now for 21 hours… The good news is we’ve had meaningful discussions. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” he said.
He maintained that the US delegation showed flexibility but was unable to bridge key differences with Iran, particularly on the issue of nuclear commitments. Washington’s central demand, he reiterated, is a clear and long-term assurance from Iran that it will not pursue nuclear weapons.
“The simple fact is that we need to see a fundamental commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon—not just now, but for the long term,” Vance said, without disclosing details of the rejected proposal.
He noted that although Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has been significantly degraded, concerns over its long-term intentions remain unresolved.
Vance also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role in facilitating the talks, describing its leadership as “incredible hosts” who made sincere efforts to bridge differences between the two sides.
The negotiations, held under tight security, were part of a Pakistan-brokered initiative aimed at stabilising tensions following a fragile ceasefire in the wider West Asia conflict. However, the lack of agreement underscores the deep divisions that continue to hinder diplomatic progress.
