By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
High-level U.S. and Iranian delegations departed Pakistan early Sunday without reaching a formal agreement to end the ongoing war, following a grueling 21-hour diplomatic marathon in Islamabad. The sessions, held under total military lockdown in the Pakistani capital, represented the most significant direct engagement between the two nations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The collapse of the talks leaves a fragile regional ceasefire in doubt and threatens further volatility in global energy markets.
The primary hurdle remains Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program. “We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news,” Vance stated during a press conference. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”
The Vice President emphasized that the “core goal” of President Donald Trump is an “affirmative commitment” that Tehran will not seek nuclear weapons. “The question is, ‘Do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon not just now, not just two years from now but for the long term?’ We haven’t seen that yet,” Vance noted.
Diplomatic Deadlock and the Nuclear Impasse
The breakdown in negotiations was characterized by Iranian state media as the result of “stark differences,” specifically regarding the removal of nuclear materials and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Tasnim news agency labeled U.S. demands as “overreach and ambitions” that “prevented a common framework.” While Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei noted that a “gap in viewpoints” on key issues stalled the deal, he struck a resilient tone on X, framing the diplomatic effort as “the continuation of the sacred jihad of the defenders of the Iranian land.”
Signaling a potential path forward, the Iranian government stated in a post on X that the talks will “continue for another round after a pause on Sunday.” This official stance provides a crucial diplomatic counterpoint to the state-affiliated Fars news agency, which had earlier reported that Tehran had “no plan for a next round of negotiations.” Former Iranian Vice President Ataollah Mohajerani also countered the American assessment of the failure, claiming the “worse news is for the United States.”
Political scientist Benjamin Radd told reporters the failure was “to be expected” given the “maximalist positions” of both delegations. Radd, a senior fellow at UCLA, explained that the impasse centers on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). While Iran claims a “sovereign right” to enrich uranium, the U.S. maintains that Tehran has “forfeited the trust and the right” to do so following years of deceiving international inspectors.
Volatile Atmosphere and Humanitarian Tensions
The atmosphere in Islamabad was described as volatile, as negotiators reviewed technical papers throughout the night. Sources indicated the two sides were too far apart in “style and temperament,” with the U.S. seeking a quick solution while Tehran favored long-term negotiation. “There were mood swings from the two sides and the temperature went up and down during the meeting,” one Pakistani source told Reuters.
The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived dressed in black in mourning for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a poignant display, they carried the shoes and bags of students killed during a U.S. bombing of a school next to a military compound. The Pentagon has stated that the strike is under investigation.
Qalibaf discussed with his U.S. and Pakistani counterparts how to advance the fragile ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Former State Department negotiator Aaron David Miller suggested that Iran currently “holds more cards than the Americans,” noting they still possess highly enriched uranium and have “weaponized geography.” Miller told the media that Iran has “demonstrated a terrifying capacity to undermine security and stability.”
The U.S. Final Offer
Throughout the marathon session, Vice President Vance consulted with President Trump “a half-dozen times, a dozen times” to coordinate strategy. He was also in continuous communication with a top-level team including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“We were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith,” Vance said, speaking at a podium alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Vance insisted the U.S. had been “quite flexible” and “accommodating” in its effort to find an “off-ramp” to the crisis.
“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” he said. A short time later, the Vice President waved goodbye from the top of the stairs as he boarded Air Force Two. Notably, Vance’s comments did not indicate what would happen after the two-week ceasefire period expires or whether the pause in hostilities would remain in place.
Trump’s Frustration and the “Maximalist Threat”
President Trump has voiced increasing frustration with the pace of the reopening, noting that vessel traffic remains tightly throttled despite the ceasefire. The two-week suspension of hostilities was originally struck against the backdrop of a “maximalist threat” from the President to annihilate Iran’s key infrastructure and power plants. On Truth Social, Trump fumed that Iran is doing a “dishonourable” job of allowing oil flow, adding, “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now! That is not the agreement we have!”
The President further asserted that the U.S. is clearing the waterway “as a favor to Countries all over the World,” but coupled this with a stern warning to Beijing. Addressing intelligence reports that China may deliver new air defense systems to Tehran within weeks, Trump warned that China would face “big problems” if it attempted to replenish Iran’s military arsenal during the pause in hostilities.
U.S. Destroyers Transit the Strait of Hormuz
The diplomatic friction coincided with direct military action. Two U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy, transited the Strait of Hormuz to clear sea mines. U.S. Central Command noted that Iran has laid mines in the waterway since March, a tactic not seen since the “Tanker War” of the 1980s. Simultaneously, senior members of the IRGC, including the Quds force, arrived at Pakistan’s Nur Khan air force base via a sanctioned Pouya Air flight to provide “consultation” to the Iranian delegation.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that he and Army Chief Asim Munir mediated the “intense and constructive” negotiations. Dar vowed that Islamabad “will continue to play its role” as a facilitator in the days to come, despite the current lack of a formal agreement.
Tankers Exit the Gulf via the Strait
The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to throttle roughly 20% of the world’s oil supplies, causing fuel and fertilizer prices to spike across Africa. Despite the tension, some movement has resumed; three supertankers—the Serifos, Cospearl Lake, and He Rong Hai—exited the Gulf on Saturday. The Serifos, carrying crude from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is expected to reach Malaysia by April 21.
In a significant move to mitigate trade disruptions, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry announced Sunday the full restoration of its 1,200-kilometer East-West oil pipeline. Operating at a capacity of 7 million barrels per day, the pipeline provides a crucial land-based alternative that bypasses the contested strait entirely.
Israel and Lebanon to Hold Direct Negotiations
As talks in Islamabad faltered, deadly Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continued overnight. The National News Agency reported a strike on a house in Maaroub that resulted in multiple casualties, while the IDF destroyed a rocket launcher in Joya. The health ministry in Lebanon reports that the death toll has now surpassed 2,000.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, the conflict remains tethered to broader regional stabilization efforts. Direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are slated for Tuesday in Washington. While domestic protests recently forced Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to postpone his trip, the planned session remains a primary focus for de-escalation on the northern front.
Pope Leo XIV’s Appeal for Peace
From the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV issued a scathing critique of the conflict, denouncing the “delusion of omnipotence” driving the U.S.-Israel war. Presiding over an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica, the first U.S.-born pope in history delivered his strongest condemnation to date, demanding that political leaders cease hostilities and negotiate.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” the Pope declared. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
While the prayer was planned before the Islamabad talks were announced and the Pope did not mention President Trump by name, his message appeared pointedly directed at the administration’s justifications for the conflict. The gravity of the moment was underscored by the figures in the pews: the U.S. was represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Laura Hochla, while the Archbishop of Tehran, Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, was also in attendance.
Strategic Limbo and the Failing Ceasefire
The conclusion of these historic talks leaves the region in a state of profound strategic uncertainty. While Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad will maintain its role as a mediator, the failure to secure a deal throws the existing two-week ceasefire into doubt.
With the U.S. walking away from the table with its “final and best offer,” and Tehran maintaining that the status of the Strait of Hormuz will not change without a “reasonable” agreement, the international community is left to wonder if the “maximalist” military threats of the past weeks will return before the global economy reaches a breaking point.
