U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations in Pakistan end without agreement

High-level negotiations between the United States and Iran, hosted in Islamabad, Pakistan, have concluded after 21 hours without a breakthrough agreement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that the U.S. delegation departed after Iran refused to accept terms regarding nuclear non-proliferation and regional security. Vance noted that Washington submitted a final memorandum of understanding as a proposal, though no deal was reached. While the U.S. attributed the failure to Iran's rejection of American red lines, Iran's Tasnim news agency cited excessive U.S. demands as the primary obstacle. Despite the U.S. announcement of the talks' failure, the Iranian government initially suggested that negotiations could continue via technical exchanges. This event marked the first direct U.S.-Iranian meeting in over a decade and the highest-level discussions since 1979. The breakdown of these talks risks destabilizing a fragile two-week ceasefire. Prime Minister and army leadership of Pakistan facilitated the hosting of the summit, receiving gratitude from the U.S. side for their mediation efforts.