The first ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran, held in Islamabad, Pakistan, 42 days after the outbreak of war, ended empty-handed. Despite more than 21 hours of marathon negotiations, the two sides failed to narrow their differences on key issues including the disposal of Iran's highly enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In response, President Trump escalated pressure on Iran by ordering the US Navy to impose a blockade on all vessels in the Hormuz Strait. The move is seen as an attempt to use the blockade as leverage to gain an advantageous position in future negotiations.
According to major international media outlets including BBC and Bloomberg on the 12th (local time), the US and Iran reportedly refused to budge from their respective "red lines" during the talks. Earlier that morning, hopes emerged for a last-minute agreement as news circulated that working-level discussions continued after negotiations that began at noon the previous day and lasted overnight. However, Vice President JD Vance, who served as the chief US negotiator, called a press conference around 6:30 a.m. to announce the breakdown of talks.
"We were quite flexible, but the Iranian side chose not to accept our terms," Vance said, expressing regret. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, also stated that "the agreement fell through due to differences on two or three major issues," adding that the talks were conducted in an atmosphere of mutual distrust.
The talks appear to have ended with both sides sticking to their positions on key issues including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the handling of highly enriched uranium. The New York Times, citing sources, reported that "the US demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran countered that it would only reopen the strait after a peace agreement is concluded." The US also reportedly demanded the complete handover of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Vance emphasized at the press conference that "we hope Iran will make a firm commitment to give up (nuclear weapons development)." The Iranian side's response through spokesman Baghaei that "the US should refrain from excessive demands" came in reaction to such US pressure.
Additionally, Iran proposed using frozen oil revenues overseas as war reparations if sanctions were lifted, but the US rejected this, the NYT added. Regarding the "cessation of Hezbollah attacks," which is destabilizing the ceasefire itself, President Donald Trump maintains this is not subject to the ceasefire terms, while Iran insists the attacks must stop.
The US and Iran engaged in an intense standoff even while traveling to Islamabad for the talks. Before departure, Vice President Vance warned that "if Iran tries to play us, we will not tolerate it." Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran's Parliament and chief Iranian negotiator, posted photos on his X (formerly Twitter) account showing charred backpacks and pictures of Iranian elementary school students killed in US airstrikes last month being loaded onto the Iranian delegation's aircraft. BBC noted that "both sides came to the talks claiming to be the victors," adding that "reaching an agreement (in a single round of talks) was always going to be difficult."
With the collapse of talks, the situation has returned to uncertainty. Both the US and Iran have not completely ruled out the possibility of negotiations, suggesting efforts to find a diplomatic solution will continue. However, with these talks stalling, it remains unclear whether a breakthrough can be found before the two-week ceasefire ends on the 21st. Rather, Israel could significantly intensify attacks on Lebanon targeting Hezbollah using the "no deal" between the US and Iran as a pretext, which could negatively impact negotiations again. Iran is also expected to maintain its hardline stance for now.
The negotiations themselves could become prolonged. The NYT noted that during the Barack Obama administration, approximately two years of intense negotiations were required before the US secured the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), which centered on limiting uranium enrichment. The Trump administration has set Iran's denuclearization as its ultimate negotiating goal. David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), analyzed that "Iran's negotiating power remains strong."
Following the collapse of ceasefire talks between the US and Iran, the entire US negotiating team withdrew from Islamabad. A US official disclosed this while Air Force Two, carrying Vice President Vance who led the US delegation, stopped for refueling at Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany on the 12th (local time), according to the White House press pool.
Ultimately, President Trump began pressuring Iran by initiating the Hormuz Strait blockade through Truth Social. "Someday we will reach the point where 'all vessels are allowed passage,' but Iran has blocked this with a single phrase that 'there may be mines somewhere' that only they know about," Trump stated. He added, "This is extortion of the world, and leaders of nations, especially the United States, will never be extorted." Trump also said he had "ordered our Navy to locate and intercept all vessels on the high seas that have paid tolls to Iran." The strategy is interpreted as an attempt to pressure Iran by blocking its oil exports and to use it as leverage to gain an advantageous position in upcoming negotiations.
