Why talks fail? Major point of conflict exposed 

Peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad have ended without agreement after two major disputes proved impossible to resolve, raising fresh concerns over stability in the Middle East, AFP, Al Jazeera, Iranian state media and other international news agencies reported.

The reports said the negotiations, held under Pakistan’s mediation, reached a deadlock as both sides maintained firm positions on what officials described as non-negotiable issues. The failure of the talks has cast doubt on the prospects for further dialogue between the two countries.

The primary point of conflict centred on the United States’ demand for a clear assurance that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons. United States Vice-President JD Vance said that Washington had not received any “affirmative commitment” from Tehran on the matter. He added that despite showing flexibility and presenting what he called a “final and best offer”, Iran chose not to accept the proposed conditions.

Iran rejected the demand, describing the American position as excessive. Officials in Tehran declined to provide the explicit guarantee sought by Washington, making the nuclear issue a central barrier to any agreement.

A second major disagreement emerged over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. The United States sought free passage for its vessels through the waterway, while Iran viewed the matter as one of national security and sovereignty. The difference in positions added further strain to the negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei confirmed in a statement on X that an agreement could not be reached due to differences of opinion on two or three important issues. No agreement can be expected in just one meeting. 

Esmail said that the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war damages and the lifting of sanctions were discussed in the talks. Diplomacy never ends. Esmail said that Pakistan played a positive role in advancing the negotiation process.

He said that several issues were discussed during the 24-hour talks, including the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear matters, war-related compensation and sanctions relief. However, no agreement was reached on any of these points.

According to Iranian media reports, a source close to the delegation said Tehran was not in a hurry to conclude a deal and that responsibility now lay with the United States. Meanwhile, Vance announced his departure from Islamabad after presenting Washington’s final proposal.