By Agencies and published by CNA
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – United States Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday (April 12) that negotiations between the US and the Iranians have ended without a deal as the Iranians refused to accept American terms to not develop a nuclear weapon.
The high-stakes talks in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad ended after 21 hours, with Vance in constant communication with President Donald Trump and others in the administration.
“But the simple fact is that 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,” Vance told reporters, adding that the main sticking point was Iran’s nuclear programme.
“That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.”
Window remains open
Vance signalled that he was still giving time to Iran to consider the offer from the US, which on Tuesday said it would pause attacks with Israel for two weeks pending negotiations.
“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
Iran insists it is not pursuing an atomic bomb, and the US and Israel bombed sensitive Iranian sites both in the war launched on Feb. 28 as well as last year.
“The simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon – not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term?” Vance said.
“We haven’t seen that yet. We hope that we will.”
In response, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said that excessive demands by the US hindered a common framework and agreement.
“The Iranian delegation negotiated continuously and intensively for 21 hours in order to protect the national interests of the Iranian people; despite various initiatives from the Iranian delegation, the unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations,” state broadcaster IRIB added on Telegram.
“Thus the negotiations ended.”
Vance also said he spoke with Trump “a half dozen times, a dozen times, over the past 21 hours” as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the United States Central Command.
“We were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith.”
Vance led the US delegation, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf led the Iranian delegation.
Vance boarded Air Force Two at 7.08 a.m, local time (9.08 a.m. Thailand time) and waved to Pakistani officials from the top of the stairs, before departing.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (April 11) he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting the United States had come out ahead from the war.
“Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we’ve won,” Trump told reporters.
“We’re in very deep negotiations with Iran. We win regardless. We’ve defeated them militarily,” Trump said.
CAPTIONS:
Top – US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions, listen, on April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Photo: Reuters/Jacquelyn Martin and published by CNA
Insert – US President Donald Trump speaks to the media, before boarding Air Force One on his way to Virginia, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 10, 2026. Photo: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein and published by CNA
Front Page – US Vice President JD Vance and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose on the day of a meeting for talks about Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. Photo: Reuters/Jacquelyn Martin and published by CNA
Also read:
Transport relief for over 460,000 vehicles approved
Heavy traffic as Songkran exodus starts
Anutin urged to find out if Pipat involved in hoarding of oil
Ekniti unveils ‘old car for new car’ scheme to cut oil use
Foreign Affairs Ministry urgently pushing Hormuz Strait deal
NACC advised to withhold lese majeste case against 10 People’s MPs until after Songkran
Supreme Court asked to spare 10 People’s MPs’ legislative duties
Supajee shrugs off ridicule over US streetside campus
Somsak awaits ministerial seat down to the wire
German cyberattack suspect arrested in Bangkok
