Vance says 21-hour Iran talks end with no deal reached

Vice President JD Vance announced Saturday that marathon negotiations with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, have concluded without an agreement, citing Iran’s refusal to commit to abandoning its nuclear weapons program — while President Donald Trump attended a UFC fight in Miami.

Why It Matters

The collapse of talks marks a significant setback in U.S. efforts to broker a diplomatic resolution to a war that has destabilized the Middle East and rattled global energy markets since the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February. The failure raises fresh questions about the path forward and underscores the administration’s unconventional approach to high-stakes diplomacy.

What To Know

Vance, speaking to reporters in Islamabad, described the 21-hour session as substantive but ultimately unsuccessful. The talks were the most direct high-level diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran since Iran’s 1979 revolution, with Vance leading the U.S. delegation alongside Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Key sticking points included Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, control over the Strait of Hormuz, and whether any ceasefire would extend to Lebanon, where Israel continues military operations against Hezbollah.

Vance said he remained in constant contact with Trump throughout the negotiations. The vice president had arrived in Pakistan with cautious optimism but said Iran’s unwillingness to meet the administration’s core demand — a firm commitment to not develop nuclear weapons or the tools to quickly achieve them — ultimately doomed the talks.

Meanwhile, Trump was at a UFC event in Miami during the final stretch of negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seen whispering to Trump from nearby seats at the arena, with the two exchanging words before Trump turned to the crowd and pumped his fist, according to CNN. Earlier in the day, when asked how negotiations were going, Trump told reporters it “makes no difference to me” whether a deal is reached.

What People Are Saying

Vice President JD Vance told reporters: “We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news. 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.”

Vance on the core U.S. demand: “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. That is the core goal of the president of the United States.”

President Donald Trump, via Truth Social on Saturday: “The Fake News Media is CRAZY, or just plain CORRUPT! The United States has completely destroyed Iran’s Military, including their entire Navy and Air Force, and everything else. Their Leadership is DEAD! The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to “load up.” But, if you listen to the Fake News, we’re losing!”

Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute told Newsweek: “JD Vance has always articulated for restraint… If Trump now turns to JD Vance, there’s a mixed kind of set of reviews about how close these two men are, and on this issue, they might have refound each other.”

Naysan Rafati, Iran Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group told Newsweek: “Both sides go into these negotiations believing they have a pretty strong hand.”

Adding: “The U.S. and Israel have done significant damage to Iran’s military capacity and retain the ability to deepen the damage if hostilities resume; Tehran has been able impose economic costs by limiting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while keeping U.S. assets and allies under fire for weeks.”

What Happens Next

Vance delivered his remarks at a brief press conference in Islamabad, speaking for just over three minutes at a podium flanked by two American flags, with Witkoff and Kushner at his side.

He spoke for one minute before taking three questions from reporters, then thanked the press and walked away without entertaining further questions.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.