US-Iran Marathon Talks End Without Consensus After 21 Hours; Vance Leaves Pakistan
A 21-hour high-level negotiation between the US and Iran in Pakistan ended without an agreement due to disputes over Iran's nuclear program. This failure raises concerns about a previously agreed ceasefire and global energy supply stability.
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- 📰 Published: April 12, 2026 at 12:50
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According to AFP, JD Vance boarded the vice presidential aircraft "Air Force Two" at 7:08 a.m. local time (10:08 a.m. Taiwan time) and waved to Pakistani officials from the top of the airstairs.
According to comprehensive reports from Reuters and CNN, before leaving Pakistan, Vance told the media that his negotiating team failed to reach a consensus after 21 hours of talks with Iran. This outcome jeopardizes the two-week ceasefire previously agreed upon by both sides.
After the talks ended, Vance told reporters: "The bad news is that we did not reach a consensus. I think this is far worse for Iran than it is for the United States." He stated, "So we are returning to the US without a consensus," but emphasized that "our red lines have been clearly drawn."
Vance pointed out that Iran chose not to accept US conditions, including the prohibition of developing nuclear weapons.
He said: "We need to see a clear commitment that they will not seek to develop nuclear weapons, nor will they acquire technologies that would allow them to rapidly possess nuclear weapons." He added: "This is a core objective of the US President (Trump), and it is what we strive for through these negotiations."
Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the main reason for the failure to reach a consensus was the US making "excessive" demands, and that the negotiations had concluded. Before Vance's statement, the Iranian government had posted on the social platform X that negotiations would continue and that technical experts from both sides would exchange documents.
These talks, held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, marked the first face-to-face meeting between the US and Iran in over a decade, and the highest-level dialogue since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The outside world had hoped this would provide an "exit strategy" for the crisis, but the failure of the talks is undoubtedly a severe blow, adding uncertainty to the two-week ceasefire that began on the 7th. If Iran does not commit to reopening the strait, global energy supplies will continue to be disrupted.
The US delegation led by Vance included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Vance mentioned that he had spoken with Trump about 6 to over 10 times during the negotiations.
The Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
To ensure the security of the talks, Pakistan implemented high-level martial law in Islamabad, a city of over 2 million people, deploying thousands of military and police personnel. For Pakistan, which was deeply isolated internationally a year ago, playing the role of a mediator between the US and Iran represents a significant turnaround in its status.
According to comprehensive reports from Reuters and CNN, before leaving Pakistan, Vance told the media that his negotiating team failed to reach a consensus after 21 hours of talks with Iran. This outcome jeopardizes the two-week ceasefire previously agreed upon by both sides.
After the talks ended, Vance told reporters: "The bad news is that we did not reach a consensus. I think this is far worse for Iran than it is for the United States." He stated, "So we are returning to the US without a consensus," but emphasized that "our red lines have been clearly drawn."
Vance pointed out that Iran chose not to accept US conditions, including the prohibition of developing nuclear weapons.
He said: "We need to see a clear commitment that they will not seek to develop nuclear weapons, nor will they acquire technologies that would allow them to rapidly possess nuclear weapons." He added: "This is a core objective of the US President (Trump), and it is what we strive for through these negotiations."
Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the main reason for the failure to reach a consensus was the US making "excessive" demands, and that the negotiations had concluded. Before Vance's statement, the Iranian government had posted on the social platform X that negotiations would continue and that technical experts from both sides would exchange documents.
These talks, held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, marked the first face-to-face meeting between the US and Iran in over a decade, and the highest-level dialogue since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The outside world had hoped this would provide an "exit strategy" for the crisis, but the failure of the talks is undoubtedly a severe blow, adding uncertainty to the two-week ceasefire that began on the 7th. If Iran does not commit to reopening the strait, global energy supplies will continue to be disrupted.
The US delegation led by Vance included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Vance mentioned that he had spoken with Trump about 6 to over 10 times during the negotiations.
The Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
To ensure the security of the talks, Pakistan implemented high-level martial law in Islamabad, a city of over 2 million people, deploying thousands of military and police personnel. For Pakistan, which was deeply isolated internationally a year ago, playing the role of a mediator between the US and Iran represents a significant turnaround in its status.