SRMED
Englishعربي
Englishعربي
US Vice President JD Vance announced that peace talks between the United States and Iran have failed after more than 21 hours of marathon negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a significant setback in efforts to end a six-week war that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy supplies.[1][3] The trilateral discussions, hosted by Pakistan and involving high-level delegations from both sides, broke down primarily because Iran refused to commit to abandoning its nuclear weapons ambitions, according to Vance.[3] Negotiators from the US, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, returned home without a deal, as reported by Bloomberg.
The talks began early Saturday morning local time, with Vance arriving in Islamabad after more than 16 hours of travel and holding an initial bilateral meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a key role in brokering the fragile two-week ceasefire announced earlier by President Donald Trump.[1] Trilateral sessions with Iran's delegation—led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi—started around 5 p.m. and stretched past midnight into Sunday, covering expert-level discussions on economics, military, legal, and nuclear issues.[2] A Pakistani source described the atmosphere as marked by "mood swings" from both Washington and Tehran, reflecting the high tensions.
These were the highest-level direct US-Iran meetings since 1979, aimed at securing a lasting resolution to the conflict that erupted with the US's Operation Epic Fury on February 28.[2] The war has centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments, where Iran laid sea mines in March and now reportedly demands fees from transiting ships under Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps oversight, according to an Israeli intelligence official.[1][2] The temporary ceasefire held tenuously amid related fighting in Lebanon, where Iran had insisted on a parallel truce before fully engaging, though Lebanese-Israeli diplomat talks were postponed.[2]
The breakdown immediately impacted maritime traffic, with two empty Chinese supertankers making last-minute U-turns in the Strait of Hormuz just as news of the failure emerged, underscoring the fragility of the current standoff. US Central Command announced it was beginning to clear mines from the strait as a "favor to countries all over the world," including major importers like China, Japan, and Europe, following Trump's directive.[1] Meanwhile, US Navy ships and other vessels transited the area during the talks, testing the ceasefire's limits.
Pakistan's role as neutral host proved crucial, with officials like Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar greeting the US team upon arrival, though optimism faded as concessions proved elusive.[1][3][4] Iranian officials had warned talks wouldn't proceed without progress in Lebanon, complicating the agenda.[1] President Trump expressed confidence that the US "wins regardless" of the outcome, pointing to strategic positioning amid reports of potential Chinese arms support for Iran.[2]
The failure raises immediate risks for civilians, energy markets, and regional stability, with thousands already dead and global shipping routes threatened. Fighting in Lebanon and Israeli strikes continue to strain the ceasefire, affecting populations across the Middle East. No new talks are scheduled, but Pakistani officials remain cautiously involved, while the US prepares to clear Hormuz mines unilaterally.[1]
What happens next remains uncertain, as both sides dig in on core demands: the US seeks full reopening of the strait and nuclear restraints, while Iran prioritizes linked regional ceasefires.[2][3] The international community watches closely, with economic ripple effects already felt from Hormuz disruptions, and eyes on whether indirect channels or third-party mediation could revive diplomacy.