Islamabad Talks Collapse After 21 Hours — Vance Flies Home Without Deal

The historic US-Iran face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad collapsed on April 12, 2026, after 21 hours of talks with no agreement reached. Vice President Vance announced at a press conference before boarding Air Force Two: 'The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement — they have chosen not to accept our terms.' The core US demand was an Iranian commitment to forgo nuclear weapons and the enrichment infrastructure that would enable rapid nuclear breakout. Iran's delegation rejected the terms, insisting on control of the Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations, frozen asset release, and a regional ceasefire covering Lebanon. The collapse was the first face-to-face breakdown between the US and Iran since the 2015 JCPOA. Pakistan's Foreign Minister pledged to facilitate new dialogue, but the immediate ceasefire agreement — brokered just two weeks earlier — was now in serious jeopardy.