US and Iran Negotiations Stall in Pakistan Over Ceasefire

Discussions held in Islamabad between representatives of the United States and Iran have concluded without a breakthrough on a peace agreement. The talks, intended to solidify a ceasefire, did not yield the desired outcome.

Following an escalation that began on February 28, 2026, with US and Israeli strikes resulting in the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran initiated retaliatory attacks against Gulf nations and Israel. The new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, subsequently pledged to retaliate for the killings, escalating the conflict with the US and Israel.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had initiated mediation efforts, successfully brokering an initial ceasefire. He had then invited both delegations to Islamabad for April 10, 2026, to finalize a comprehensive peace deal. Sharif had previously announced on X, formerly Twitter, his intention to host the delegations for further negotiations on a conclusive agreement to resolve all disputes.

The White House acknowledged on Monday that a 45-day ceasefire proposal with Iran was under consideration. However, it clarified that President Donald Trump had not yet approved the plan and that military operations were ongoing.

US Vice President JD Vance commented on the failed negotiations, stating that an agreement was not reached and attributing the outcome to Iran's failure to accept Washington's conditions. Vance remarked, "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."

He emphasized that the US required a clear commitment from Tehran that it would not pursue nuclear weapons or acquire the means for their development. Vance elaborated, "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."

Conversely, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, suggested that expecting a resolution in a single negotiation session was unrealistic. "Naturally, from the beginning, we should not have expected to reach an agreement in a single session. No one had such an expectation," Baghaei stated.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar encouraged both parties to continue their pursuit of lasting peace. Dar expressed Pakistan's gratitude to both sides for acknowledging the country's mediation efforts and role in achieving the ceasefire. "On behalf of Pakistan, I would like to express gratitude to the two sides for appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire and its mediator role," Dar said. He added, "We hope that the two sides continue with a positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond."