A marathon round of diplomacy in Islamabad has ended in stalemate, with Pakistan’s high-profile efforts failing to bridge deep divisions between Washington and Tehran.
After 21 hours of closed-door negotiations, the United States and Iran walked away without an agreement, despite extraordinary measures by Islamabad, including a two-day public holiday, tightened security and heavy deployment of forces, to create space for a breakthrough.
US Vice-President JD Vance summed up the outcome bluntly: “We held talks for 21 hours, but in the end no agreement could be reached.” He indicated that while key issues were discussed, Iran refused to accept Washington’s conditions, widely seen as the core obstacle.
American officials made it clear their “red lines” remained unchanged. Among them is Iran’s stance on its nuclear programme, a sticking point that has derailed negotiations for years.
Tehran, however, pushed back just as firmly. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei described the talks as “intensive and important” but blamed the United States for making what he called excessive and unreasonable demands.
In a social media statement, he said discussions covered a wide range of critical issues, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear activities and pathways to ending the ongoing conflict. He also stressed that any deal must recognise Iran’s “legitimate rights and interests”.
The diplomatic breakdown was swift in its aftermath. The US delegation departed Islamabad for Washington shortly after the talks, while the Iranian side also wrapped up its visit.
Caught in the middle, Pakistan moved quickly to contain the fallout. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both sides to respect the existing ceasefire, warning that any escalation could undo fragile regional stability.
The failed talks highlight just how far apart the two sides remain, and how difficult it will be to revive diplomacy in the near term. For now, the ceasefire holds, but with no agreement in sight, the risk of renewed tensions continues to hang over the region.