DID Press: Iran and United States Talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement after more than 21 hours of negotiations. Both sides accused each other of inflexibility and making unacceptable demands, and no schedule has yet been announced for a new round of talks.
The negotiations, hosted with mediation by the government of Pakistan, concluded without a breakthrough. U.S. officials stated that fundamental disagreements remain, asserting that Tehran has not provided a clear commitment to abandoning its nuclear program. In contrast, Iranian media outlets argued that the main reason for the deadlock was Washington’s insistence on extensive demands beyond the expected framework.
The U.S. Vice President said the American delegation entered the talks in “good faith” and presented what he described as the “best possible offer,” but Iran rejected Washington’s conditions. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s mediation role and confirmed that the U.S. delegation departed Islamabad without reaching an agreement.
On the Iranian side, media organizations including Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency reported that the United States was unwilling to reduce its demands and may have been seeking a pretext to exit the negotiations. According to these sources, some U.S. requests exceeded its practical leverage gained in recent years.
According to a report by Axios, part of the disagreement relates to strategic issues such as Iran’s role in the Strait of Hormuz and the matter of enriched uranium stockpiles. Iran considers these issues to be established sovereign rights and has refused to relinquish them.
The Iranian delegation, led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and including Abbas Araghchi and Ali Bagheri Kani, held several meetings with senior Pakistani officials—including the army chief and prime minister—prior to the talks. Iranian sources said these meetings focused on coordination and raising concerns about U.S. conduct during the negotiation process.
Direct discussions between the two delegations began Saturday afternoon and continued through several sessions at both principal and technical levels. Despite Pakistan’s efforts to bridge differences and exchange draft proposals in the final hours, the negotiations concluded early Sunday morning without a final outcome.
An informed Iranian source stated that “the ball is in the U.S. court” and that Tehran is in no hurry to resume negotiations. At present, no specific time or venue has been announced for the next round of talks.