Overview
- Senior U.S. and Iranian officials met face-to-face for the first time since 1979, held roughly 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, and left without an agreement.
- The main gaps were an explicit, long-term Iranian pledge not to pursue a nuclear weapon and how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil.
- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington left its final and best offer and argued the stalemate hurts Tehran more than the U.S.
- President Donald Trump later announced a U.S. Navy blockade of the strait, signaling a harder line as energy markets brace for possible shipping disruptions.
- Iranian officials accused the U.S. of excessive demands and said trust was not earned, while also alleging an unconfirmed call from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to Vance; Pakistan, praised by both sides, says it will try to convene further talks as a short ceasefire still holds.