Vice President J.D. Vance announced Sunday that high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran ended without an agreement after Iranian officials declined to accept U.S. terms. Speaking from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Vance said the talks lasted approximately 21 hours and involved āsubstantive discussions,ā but ultimately failed to produce a deal.
āThe bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,ā Vance said. āAnd I think thatās bad news for Iran much more than itās bad news for the United States.ā
According to Vance, the U.S. delegation made its āred linesā clear and presented what he described as a final proposal. However, Iranian officials chose not to accept those terms. āWeāve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms,ā he added.
Vance also confirmed he remained in frequent contact with President Donald Trump throughout the negotiations, speaking with him multiple times during the 21-hour period. The U.S. negotiating team included special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner, and coordinated closely with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The talks were aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire and preventing a broader regional conflict. A key U.S. objective, Vance said, was securing firm assurances that Iran would not pursue nuclear weapons or the capability to rapidly develop them.
āThe simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,ā Vance stated.
Meanwhile, President Trump intensified his rhetoric, asserting that Iran is negotiating from a position of weakness. In recent remarks, he claimed Iranās military infrastructureāincluding its navy, air force, and missile systemsāhas been severely degraded.
The Iranian delegation reportedly included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, though officials have not publicly detailed their response to the U.S. proposal.
Despite the lack of agreement, Vance indicated that the diplomatic channel remains open, with the U.S. awaiting Iranās response to what he described as its āfinal and best offer.ā
