DID Press: Talks between Iran and United States mediated by Pakistan ended without a definitive agreement despite limited progress, due to five major unresolved disputes.
1. Nuclear issue: The United States demands a complete halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment and guarantees preventing weaponization, while Iran insists on its legal right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to pursue peaceful enrichment.
2. Lebanon and regional conflict: Ongoing Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon have further complicated negotiations. Iran has warned that continued attacks could render diplomacy meaningless.
3. Strait of Hormuz tensions: Disputes over maritime security have intensified. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of disrupting shipping, while Tehran asserts sovereignty over the strategic waterway and has reportedly introduced new transit regulations, including contested fees on shipping.
4. Regional alliances: Iran’s support for what it calls the “Axis of Resistance” remains a red line, while Israel views these networks as existential threats and seeks their dismantlement.
5. Sanctions and frozen assets: Iran demands full lifting of sanctions and release of approximately $120 billion in frozen assets, a condition not clearly addressed in initial proposals facilitated by Pakistan.
Officials say these unresolved issues highlight a wide strategic gap between the two sides, indicating that a single round of negotiations was insufficient to bridge differences.