U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Collapse in Islamabad After 21-Hour Deadlock

ISLAMABAD – High-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran collapsed in Pakistan’s capital after a marathon 21-hour session failed to yield a breakthrough on Tehran’s long-term nuclear commitments.

Iran has linked any progress to Washington’s willingness to agree on a deal, warning that it will continue restricting safe passage through key shipping routes until its demands are met. “Iran is not in a hurry, and until the U.S. agrees to a reasonable deal, there will be no change in the situation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the Fars News Agency quoted an unnamed official as saying.

According to IRIB, “Despite various initiatives from the Iranian delegation, the unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations. Thus, the negotiations ended,” the broadcaster said on Telegram.

Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council’s news outlet, Nour, confirmed that no plans had been made for further discussions following the failure of talks mediated by Pakistan. “No program has yet been announced for the time, place, or next round of negotiations,” it reported.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced early Sunday that he was returning to Washington without a deal, citing Iran’s refusal to commit to permanently abandoning its future nuclear ambitions. He clarified, however, that Washington’s proposal for a nuclear settlement remains on the table as its “final and best offer.”

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

The breakdown, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, threatens to unravel the fragile two-week ceasefire currently in place between U.S.-backed and Iranian-aligned forces in the region.

Nuclear Guarantees Remain the “Red Line

The main sticking point remains Washington’s insistence on a permanent renunciation of nuclear weapon development. U.S. officials maintain that recent military actions dismantled much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Vance argued that Tehran had yet to show sufficient “long-term commitment of will” to renounce nuclear arms. “The simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment from the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon — not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term?” he asked. “We haven’t seen that yet.”

He confirmed that the U.S. delegation would return home, stating, “They have chosen not to accept our terms.”

Trump Declares “Win” as Military Readiness Escalates

As the diplomatic channel closed, President Donald Trump downplayed the collapse, asserting that the U.S. retains the strategic advantage. “Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” he said. “And the reason is because we’ve won.”

Nevertheless, the administration has shifted to heightened military readiness. Trump revealed that the U.S. is “loading up ships” with weapons and ammunition in case the truce collapses completely.

The naval front remains volatile. The Pentagon confirmed that two U.S. destroyers successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday — the first reported transit since the conflict began — though Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy (IRGC-N) denied the claim.

Iranian officials warned that any perceived attempt to undermine their control of the waterway would provoke a “firm and forceful response.”

The U.S. delegation’s departure without a safe-passage agreement for oil exports signals that the Hormuz blockade — and the subsequent “war premium” on global shipping and energy prices — will likely continue.

Indonesianpost.com | Investing.com