The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after marathon negotiations that stretched over 21 hours in Islamabad, Pakistan, throwing a fragile two-week ceasefire into uncertainty.
As Hvylya reports, citing Axios journalist Barak Ravid, the talks collapsed over core disagreements: Iran's insistence on controlling the Strait of Hormuz and its refusal to give up enriched uranium stockpiles.
Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, held a four-minute press conference before immediately departing for Washington. He described the sessions as "substantive discussions" but said the two sides could not bridge their differences.
"This is bad news for Iran much more than this is bad news for the U.S.," Vance said. "We have made very clear what our red lines are, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."
Washington pushed for what Vance called a long-term "affirmative commitment" from Tehran not to pursue nuclear weapons or the tools needed to build one quickly. Iran, according to Vance, has not provided that commitment.
Vance insisted the U.S. had been "quite flexible and accommodating" and negotiated "in good faith." Iranian media outlets offered a sharply different reading, saying the talks failed because the American side was unrealistic and made excessive demands.
The U.S. and Iranian delegations met over several rounds in multiple formats, starting Saturday and wrapping up in the early hours of Sunday local time. During the negotiations, the American team spoke with President Trump at least half a dozen times and consulted with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
Nobody expected a final deal on Saturday, but Washington had hoped for enough momentum to keep the process alive - possibly by extending the ceasefire. Vance's brief and blunt remarks offered little of that optimism, though he stopped short of saying the U.S. was walking away entirely.
"We leave here with a very simple proposal. A method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We will see if the Iranians accept it," Vance said.