rki.news

ISLAMABAD, April 12 – High-stakes talks between the United States and Iran ended in Islamabad on Sunday without a breakthrough, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Tehran had refused to accept Washington’s final proposal after nearly 21 hours of negotiations.
Speaking after the talks, Vance said the two sides held “substantive discussions” but failed to reach an agreement, warning that the deadlock was “bad news for Iran” more than for the United States.
“They have chosen not to accept our terms,” Vance told reporters, adding that Washington still had not received a long-term commitment from Tehran to abandon efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
He said the U.S. required a clear and lasting assurance that Iran would neither pursue a nuclear weapon nor acquire tools enabling rapid weapons development.
Despite the impasse, Iranian state media reported that both sides had agreed in principle to continue talks following mediation efforts by Pakistani officials.
Vance praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir for helping facilitate the negotiations, saying Pakistan had worked actively to bridge differences between the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed extensive exchanges had taken place during what he described as a “busy and long day,” covering issues including the nuclear dispute, sanctions relief, war reparations, and the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan hosted the negotiations as part of broader diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions under a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week.