Talks between the US and Iranian delegations, held in Pakistan’s capital and lasting 21 hours, reached a deadlock because of disagreements over control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. This was reported by the BBC.
“We had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians, and that is good news. The bad news is that we did not reach an agreement, and I think that is much worse news for Iran than for the US. We were unable to get to a situation in which the Iranians accepted our terms,” US Vice President J.D. Vance said.
Vance, who led Washington’s delegation, has already left Pakistan. According to him, the issue of nuclear weapons was central to the talks, and Trump’s main objective is to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
As the Financial Times reports, an Iranian representative said that one meeting would not be enough to reach an agreement. According to him, the atmosphere at the talks was “full of distrust and suspicion.” Tehran urged Washington to negotiate “in good faith” and to refrain from “excessive demands and unlawful requests.”
The publication notes that another key issue on which the sides failed to reach agreement was the Strait of Hormuz. Iran insists on controlling the strait and on the right to levy duties on ships passing through it. The country’s delegation also rejects the “joint control” options over the strait proposed by the United States.