ISLAMABAD – The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after 21 hours of peace talks in Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance said on early Sunday morning.
“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the US… they have chosen not to accept our terms,” Vance said in a press conference in Islamabad, before boarding Air Force Two to leave the country.
“The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” he continued.
The talks began in Islamabad on Saturday as the two sides looked to reach a deal to end the war that has lasted for six weeks. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the U.S. and Iran since 2015, when the Obama administration negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran, which President Donald Trump ended.
The negotiations unfolded amidst a fragile ceasefire between the two nations, further destabilized by Israel’s persistent strikes on Lebanon and Iran’s insistence on retaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran, as part of its 10-point negotiation plan, demanded an end to Israel’s attacks against Hezbollah as a condition for any permanent agreement. Additionally, the Iranian delegation sought the release of $6 billion in frozen assets, guarantees regarding its nuclear program, and the right to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Friday, Trump said that the main objective to end the war was to prevent Iran from having any nuclear capabilities.
“No nuclear weapon. That’s 99% percent of it,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One.
Trump has also said the goals for the war with Iran included destroying its military capabilities and creating regime change – neither of which have happened.
