The latest round of high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran ended without agreement after 21 hours of continuous discussions, according to officials and media reports.
US Vice President JD Vance stated on Sunday in Islamabad that the two sides failed to reach a consensus despite what he described as intensive and “good faith” engagement. He said Washington had presented its “final and best offer” following extended internal consultations within the US administration.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also confirmed that the talks concluded without any outcome, attributing the failure to what it described as “excessive demands” from the US side, which it said prevented the formation of a workable framework.
The negotiations, held in Islamabad, marked the third round of face-to-face discussions between the two countries within a two-week conditional truce window, coming weeks after reported US-Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets. The process had drawn significant international attention amid heightened regional tensions.
Vance said the central issue remained Iran’s nuclear programme, insisting that Washington seeks a long-term, verifiable commitment that Tehran will not pursue nuclear weapons capability. He added that US assessments indicated Iran’s enrichment facilities had been “destroyed,” shifting focus toward preventing future development.
Iranian officials, however, maintained that talks were held in an atmosphere of mistrust. Tehran’s diplomatic representatives said an agreement could not be expected in a single session, while stressing that any deal would require guarantees against renewed military action.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said discussions covered a broad agenda, including the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, war reparations, and a complete end to hostilities. He noted that while progress was made on some issues, significant differences remained on several core points.
US President Donald Trump, commenting separately, said it “makes no difference” to him whether a deal is reached, adding further uncertainty to the diplomatic process.
Despite the breakdown, Pakistan reaffirmed its willingness to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said Islamabad would continue efforts to encourage engagement and support regional stability.
Observers say the collapse of talks raises fresh questions about the durability of the current ceasefire arrangement, particularly amid unresolved disputes over sanctions, security guarantees, and regional maritime tensions.