US-Iran Negotiations End Without Agreement
Vice President J.D. Vance announced on Sunday that the high-stakes negotiations between the U.S. and Iran concluded without any agreement, primarily due to Iran’s unwillingness to accept American terms.
During a press conference held at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Vance remarked that Iran “chose not to accept our terms.” He added, “The bad news is we haven’t reached an agreement,” clarifying that this outcome is more detrimental for Iran than for the United States.
The vice president indicated that the discussions lasted 21 hours and termed them “substantive talks,” yet he emphasized that the U.S. would not budge on certain “red lines that should not be crossed.”
Vance mentioned, “So we’re going back to the United States without a deal. We’ve made it very clear what the red lines are and what we’re willing to comply with and what we’re not.” He expressed disappointment that Iran opted not to accept the U.S. conditions.
When questioned about his communications with President Donald Trump during the negotiations, Vance disclosed he had been in touch consistently, noting, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to him—six times in the last 21 hours, maybe even 12 times.” He also pointed out that the U.S. team maintained contact with other Trump administration officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Vance reiterated that the U.S. was negotiating in good faith and had entered the talks with a straightforward proposal, leaving open the question of whether Iran might reconsider its stance. He arrived in Pakistan to take part in negotiations aimed at maintaining a fragile ceasefire proclaimed by Trump earlier in the week, aiming to avoid further regional conflict.
A senior delegation, including U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, joined him in discussions with Iranian officials in Islamabad.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf represented the Iranian side in these negotiations. Vance chose not to specify which terms Iran rejected but insisted that assurances from Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions were crucial. He stated, “They need to see a positive commitment not to seek nuclear weapons and not to seek the means to rapidly achieve nuclear weapons,” highlighting this as a core objective of the negotiations.
The talks came about a month after the U.S. commenced Operation Epic Fury on February 28.
