US vice-president JD Vance has said American and Iranian negotiators failed to reach an agreement during peace talks in Islamabad, with Washington arguing that Tehran chose not to accept the terms set by the US.
According to Vance, one of the American conditions was that Iran not build nuclear weapons. He said the US delegation was leaving Pakistan after talks ended without a deal.
The latest discussions come amid a wider regional crisis that has included the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran since the start of the war. The closure has caused significant disruption to international shipping and has added pressure on the global economy.
Dispute over the Strait of Hormuz
US officials have also claimed that Iran has been unable to locate mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains a central flashpoint in the conflict because of its importance for global trade and energy transport.
Separately, the UK is set to host a meeting next week focused on the Strait of Hormuz. The gathering will bring together multiple countries with the aim of restoring free movement for ships through the passage.
A British official told the Associated Press that the meeting will reject the idea of charging tolls for passage through the strait. Iran had proposed such tolls as part of ceasefire negotiations.
Diplomatic efforts continue
The failed talks in Islamabad underline how far apart the two sides remain on the most sensitive parts of the negotiations. While the US has pressed for guarantees on nuclear weapons, Iran has not accepted the American terms, according to Vance.
The next round of diplomacy may now shift to the UK-hosted meeting, where governments will seek to address the security and economic consequences of restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz. With the waterway still blocked, international concern remains high over shipping delays, higher costs and the wider impact on the global economy.
For now, the latest talks have ended without a breakthrough, leaving the future of the negotiations uncertain as regional tensions continue.
