
New Delhi, Apr 12, 2026: High-stakes US-Iran peace talks mediated by Pakistan ended without a breakthrough after 21 hours of negotiations held on Saturday.
Leading the US delegation, Vice President JD Vance said Washington had presented its “final and best offer” but failed to secure an agreement. He identified Iran’s nuclear programme as the core issue, stressing the need for a firm commitment from Tehran not to pursue nuclear weapons.

“We need a clear assurance that Iran will not seek nuclear weapons or the capability to develop them quickly,” Vance said, adding that such a guarantee remains central to US policy under President Donald Trump.
Vance noted that despite “flexible and good-faith” efforts by the US side, Iran did not accept the proposed terms. He declined to elaborate further on the details of the discussions.
Iran, however, blamed the deadlock on what it termed “unreasonable demands” by the United States. According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Iranian delegation engaged in intensive negotiations but no progress was possible due to US positions.
Reports indicate that multiple contentious issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, were discussed during the talks.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump ruled out any alternative strategy if talks fail, asserting that US military action had already weakened Iran significantly and that there was “no need for a backup plan.”