Islamabad Talks Collapse After 21 Hours — US-Iran Nuclear Talks Fail; Vance: 'The Bad News Is That We Have Not Reached an Agreement'

The historic US-Iran proximity talks in Islamabad, Pakistan ended without an agreement on April 12, 2026 after 21 hours of negotiations — the longest direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, announced the breakdown: 'The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States. They have chosen not to accept our terms.' Vance identified the nuclear weapons commitment as the fundamental sticking point: 'The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon.' Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said negotiations broke down over a 'gap between our opinions over two or three important issues,' and Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf stated the US delegation had 'failed to gain the trust' of Iran's team. Iranian demands included a Lebanon ceasefire, release of $6 billion in frozen assets, the right to develop nuclear technology for medical purposes, and the ability to charge transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz. The entire US negotiating team departed Islamabad with no representatives remaining in Pakistan. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif called on both sides to maintain the existing ceasefire and expressed hope talks would resume remotely.