US, Iran Still Far Apart Following Marathon Sessions in Pakistan

By Alex Raufoglu 04:12 12.4.2026

WASHINGTON — After a grueling 21-hour marathon of high-stakes diplomacy in the Pakistani capital, negotiations between the US and Iran have fractured without a breakthrough.

US Vice President JD Vance early on April 12 emerged from the closed-door sessions to announce that while the dialogue was “substantive,” Tehran had ultimately balked at Washington’s core security demands.

The failure to secure even a preliminary framework plunges the future of regional stability into a volatile uncertainty, leaving both nations entrenched in a familiar logic of confrontation.

The Nuclear ‘Red Line’

Speaking to reporters after the talks concluded, Vance struck a somber yet firm tone, framing the impasse as a matter of Iranian political will rather than mere diplomatic technicality.

“We have been at it now for 21 hours…we’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news,” Vance said. “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 United States.”

Vance emphasized that the American delegation’s “red lines” remained centered on securing an “affirmative commitment” that Tehran will not seek a nuclear weapon or the tools to quickly achieve one — the “core goal” of the administration.

Despite characterizing US negotiators as “quite flexible” and “quite accommodating,” Vance indicated that the gulf between the two sides remains wide.

“The simple question is: Do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon…for the long term?” Vance asked. “We haven’t seen that yet.”

A Broad Agenda Met With Silence

While the nuclear file dominated the proceedings, Vance confirmed the agenda spanned the full spectrum of the frozen bilateral relationship, including frozen assets and broader regional tensions.

He remained tight-lipped on the granular details, noting he would not “negotiate in public” after nearly a day of private deliberation.

Vance confirmed the US team maintained constant communication with President Donald Trump and the national security team — including defense chief Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — throughout the rounds. He concluded with a stark ultimatum:

“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”

Tehran’s Defiance, And The Specter of Escalation

The view from the Iranian camp was one of principled resistance.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated in a social media post that success hinged on Washington “refraining from excessive demands and unlawful requests” and accepting Iran’s “legitimate rights and interests.”

Baqaei characterized the “intensive” sessions as covering a wide range of grievances, including the Strait of Hormuz, war reparations, and the “complete end of the war against Iran.”

State-aligned media in Tehran echoed this, accusing Washington of “breaches of promise” and “malicious acts.”

The collapse of the Islamabad talks has sparked immediate concern among regional observers who fear the diplomatic void will be filled by military posturing.

“Iran’s regime feels it’s winning. This is emboldening Tehran to refuse once again US offers,” Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told RFE/RL.

“But it risks overplaying its hand. The US has to change the Iranian decision-making calculus to shatter that perception of victory. This sets the stage for a military escalation,” he added.

Source: trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=449171

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