Wall to wall. At the end of the sixth week of war in Iran, which began on February 28 with a US-Israeli attack, at the negotiating table in Islamabad, Pakistan, the United States did not reach an agreement with Tehran. The talks went on for 21 uninterrupted hours, without an agreement for the end of the war: the positions are still too distant.
The announcement from American Vice President JD Vance came from Islamabad in the middle of the night on Sunday 12 April: “The United States has not reached an agreement with Iran”. According to Vance “there is no promise from Iran to definitively abandon nuclear weapons”. According to Tehran, however, “the negotiations failed due to the unreasonable demands of the US”. But, Iran adds, “no one expected an agreement in the first round of negotiations.” Pakistan has asked Washington and Tehran to respect the ceasefire anyway.
Vice President JD Vance gives an update in Pakistan:
“The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon.” pic.twitter.com/il4THN5DwV
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 12, 2026
The three main rocks
The issues, therefore, remain unresolved. There are at least three main obstacles that have prevented an agreement. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the fate of nearly 900 pounds (408 kg) of highly enriched uranium for the development of Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s demand to release some $27 billion in assets frozen abroad were the flashpoints that derailed the Iran-US deal. The New York Times writes this, citing two Iranian officials aware of the talks.
The United States had called on Iran to immediately reopen the strait to all shipping traffic, but Iran refused to give up its influence over this strategic oil tanker spot, saying it would only do so after a final peace agreement.
Iran also demanded compensation for damage caused by six weeks of airstrikes and the release of frozen oil revenues in Iraq, Luxembourg, Bahrain, Japan, Qatar, Turkey and Germany for reconstruction, the officials added, but the Americans rejected these demands. Another point of contention was President Trump’s demand that Iran hand over or sell its entire stockpile of enriched uranium to near-nuclear grade. Iran made a counterproposal, but the sides failed to reach a compromise, officials said.
What happens now?
Even if there was no agreement, the start of negotiations is an important signal. Leading the Iranian delegation was the Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who met Vance directly: a face to face defined as “cordial and calm” by the sources, and the highest level of direct contact between the two countries since the breakdown of diplomatic relations in 1979, after the Islamic Revolution. According to several observers, the mere holding of the negotiations is however a signal. “These are the most serious and prolonged direct talks between the United States and Iran, and reflect the intention of both sides to end the conflict,” commented New York Times analyst Vali Nasr.
What can happen after negotiations fail? The near future is dark, with uncertainties and pessimism. There are two main scenarios for Donald Trump. The first: to start bombing Iran again, with the real risk of getting bogged down in the war in the Middle East and worsening a very serious energy crisis, which the USA has no interest in prolonging. The ceasefire in force between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, expires in a few days, on Tuesday 21 April.
The second option, however, is to continue with the negotiations, to seek a compromise. But it is difficult, because the positions of the two countries, between the regime’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, are still very distant.