How talks broke down in Islamabad, with both sides blaming each other
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Imran Mulla
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Sun, 04/12/2026 - 09:54
Iran says progress depends on US 'seriousness and good faith' as Washington's allies urge return to negotiations
US Vice President JD Vance arrives for a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on 11 April 2026 (AFP)
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The world's eyes were on Islamabad for nearly 21 hours as marathon ceasefire talks took place between the United States and Iran.
These were the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran in 50 years. They involved US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
However, Vance emerged from the talks on Sunday morning with the announcement that he would return to the US without an agreement.
Vance said the talks' stalling was "bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States".
He added: "We leave here with a very simple proposal… our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it."
Vance noted that the team had been in constant contact with President Donald Trump throughout the more than 20 hours of negotiations.
Trump himself had earlier struck a nonchalant tone, telling reporters it "makes no difference to me" whether a deal is reached with Iran, as he prepared to travel to Miami to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.
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The president was reportedly watching the fight as Vance took to the podium in Islamabad.
Disagreements in the negotiations centred on Iran’s claim to control the Strait of Hormuz and its refusal to give up its stockpile of enriched uranium.
These issues emerged as the major points of contention in efforts to reach a deal.
Vance said Washington is seeking an "affirmative commitment" from Iran that it will not pursue a nuclear weapon or the means to rapidly develop one, describing it as the central goal of the negotiations.
"Again, their nuclear programme, such as it is, the enrichment facilities that they had before, they’ve been destroyed," Vance told reporters.
"But the simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term? We haven’t seen that yet. We hope that we will,"
'Diplomacy never ends'
Meanwhile, Iran believes the "ball is in America’s court", Tasnim News Agency reported, citing an informed source.
The report said Tehran had presented "reasonable initiatives" during the talks.
It added that there will be no change in the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is controlling, unless Washington agrees to what Tehran considers a "reasonable" deal.
No date or venue has been set for a possible next round of talks.
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Ghalibaf said on X that "we have the necessary good faith and will, but due to the experiences of the two previous wars, we have no trust in the opposing side".
He added: "The opposing side ultimately failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations."
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said it was unrealistic to have expected a deal with the US in just a single round of negotiations.
He noted the talks took place after weeks of conflict and amid deep mistrust.
Baghaei said both sides had reached an understanding on some issues but remained divided on "two to three important" matters.
He added that progress depends on the "seriousness and good faith" of the US and its recognition of Iran’s "legitimate rights and interests".
Baghaei said diplomacy "never ends", adding that consultations with Pakistan and other friendly and neighbouring countries will continue.
Allies urge more negotiations
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar urged the US and Iran to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire and continue negotiations in a "positive spirit".
He said it is imperative that both sides work toward "durable peace and prosperity" in the region.
Dar added that Pakistan will continue to facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
Meanwhile, key US allies expressed disappointment in the talks stalling.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged the US and Iran to uphold the ceasefire and return to negotiations.
British Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "It’s obviously disappointing that we haven’t yet seen a breakthrough in negotiations and an end to this war in Iran that is a sustainable one."
He added: "As ever in diplomacy, you’re failing until you succeed. So while these talks may not have ended in success, doesn’t mean there isn’t merit in continuing to try."
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