Vice President J.D. Vance stated on Sunday that high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran ended without reaching an agreement, after Iranian representatives refused to accept the terms proposed by Washington.
Speaking at a press briefing from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Vance said the discussions had been extensive and lasted around 21 hours. He characterized the talks as serious and detailed, but ultimately unsuccessful. According to him, the key obstacle was Iran’s decision not to agree to the U.S. position. “We have not reached an agreement,” he said, adding that the outcome was “worse for Iran than for the United States.”
Vance explained that the American delegation remained firm throughout the process and did not alter what he described as essential “red lines.” He said U.S. negotiators clearly communicated both areas where flexibility was possible and issues that were non-negotiable. In the end, he said, Iran rejected what he described as the final American proposal.
He also noted that he was in regular contact with President Donald Trump during the negotiations, speaking multiple times over the course of the talks. Senior members of the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, were also kept informed. Other figures involved in the broader coordination included special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner.
The central aim of the U.S. position, Vance said, was to obtain a firm commitment from Iran that it would not pursue the development of nuclear weapons or the capacity to quickly assemble them. He described this as the core objective guiding the American approach.
The negotiations took place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire previously announced by President Trump. After the talks collapsed, Trump issued statements criticizing Iran’s position and suggesting that its strategic influence had weakened, though those claims were not independently verified.
