After more than 21 hours of face-to-face negotiations mediated by Pakistan, the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement to permanently end the ongoing Middle East conflict, Vice President JD Vance announced early Sunday.
The marathon diplomatic session, held at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, marked the highest-level direct talks between the two nations in decades.
While officials on both sides described the discussions as “substantive,” deep divisions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme, and the scope of any potential ceasefire proved insurmountable.
“The good news is that we have been at it now for 21 hours, and we’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians,” Vance told reporters at a press appearance in Islamabad as dawn broke over the Pakistani capital. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement.”
Vance added a stark warning, saying the lack of a deal was “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”
The Strait of Hormuz Remains the Central Sticking Point
Multiple sources close to the negotiations confirmed that the primary obstacle remains control of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20% of global oil passes.
Source told newsmen that the US had made “unacceptable demands” regarding the waterway. Until a “common framework” is reached, the source warned, “the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged,” adding that “even the number of ships that had been agreed upon will not be able to pass.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei outlined the full scope of discussions on social media, noting that “intensive negotiations” covered the strait, Tehran’s nuclear programme, war reparations, and the lifting of sanctions.
He cautioned that success hinged on the opposing side “refraining from excessive demands and unlawful requests.”
Iranian state media echoed that sentiment, with Tasnim News Agency reporting that the US was making “excessive demands” and suggesting this round represented “the Iranian team’s last chance to reach a common framework.”
A Tale of Two Fronts: Vance in Pakistan, Trump in Florida
The stalemate in Islamabad unfolded against a striking political backdrop in the United States. While Vance led grueling negotiations into the early morning hours, President Donald Trump attended a UFC fight in Miami.
When asked by reporters earlier Saturday whether a deal mattered to him, Trump was dismissive. “Regardless what happens, we win,” Trump said as he departed the White House. “Whether we make a deal or not, makes no difference to me.”
Video from the Miami arena showed Secretary of State Marco Rubio whispering to the president from nearby seats, though it remains unclear if the conversation pertained to the failing talks in Pakistan.
On-the-Ground Realities and Regional Reactions
Despite the diplomatic deadlock, the region remained relatively quiet Saturday, with no new strikes reported across Gulf countries following a two-week ceasefire agreement reached on Tuesday.
However, tensions remain high. Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers have begun clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known American vessels to navigate the waterway since the war began on February 28.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has been a key US ally in the conflict, declared that the campaign against Iran is “not yet over.”
In a televised speech, Netanyahu claimed Iran is “begging for a ceasefire” and said the regime’s nuclear capabilities would be removed “either by an agreement or by other means.”
What Happens Now?
With no deal in hand, Vance is expected to return to the United States. The White House has not indicated when or where the next round of talks might occur.
Iranian media reported that senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including personnel from the Quds Force, had arrived in Islamabad for “consultation” during the talks, signaling Tehran’s high-stakes assessment of the negotiations.
For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to normal traffic, global oil prices remain volatile, and a region weary of war faces an uncertain future as both superpowers retreat to their corners without a handshake.
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