US vice-president JD Vance said American and Iranian negotiators failed to reach a deal during peace talks in Islamabad, with Iran declining to accept the terms set out by the United States.
According to Vance, those terms included a commitment from Iran not to build nuclear weapons. After the talks ended without agreement, he said the US delegation was leaving Pakistan.
The talks in Islamabad took place as tensions around the wider Middle East crisis continued to shape diplomacy and security concerns in the region. The discussions were described as conditional peace talks, with both sides seeking a possible path forward but ultimately unable to close the gap between their positions.
US officials also claimed that Iran was unable to find mines it had laid in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait has been a major point of concern in the conflict, with shipping disruption carrying consequences well beyond the immediate region.
UK to host meeting on the Strait of Hormuz
Separately, the UK will host a meeting next week focused on the Strait of Hormuz, bringing together multiple countries with the aim of restoring free movement for ships through the waterway. British officials said the gathering is intended to address the disruption caused by Iran’s blockade of the strait since the beginning of the war.
That blockade has inflicted heavy damage on the global economy, adding to worries over trade, energy supplies and maritime security.
A British official told the Associated Press that the meeting will oppose the idea of tolls being charged for passage through the strait. Iran had proposed the charges as part of ceasefire negotiations, but the UK-led discussions are expected to reject that approach.
The developments underline how the conflict continues to affect not only military and diplomatic relations, but also international shipping routes and the broader economic outlook. With talks in Islamabad ending without agreement, attention is now shifting to the next round of international efforts aimed at easing pressure on one of the world’s most important waterways.
The situation remains fluid, with further diplomatic engagement expected in the coming days. But for now, the US says the latest talks have not produced a deal, and the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz continues to remain a central issue in the wider crisis.
