High-stakes US-Iran talks end without a deal in Pakistan

US Vice-President JD Vance has stated that negotiations between the US and Iran in Pakistan have ended without a deal after the Iranians refused to accept US terms against developing nuclear weapons, the Associated Press reported.

The talks ended after a marathon 21 hours in Islamabad which lasted past 6 am local time Sunday.

Vance told reporters that he remained in constant communication with US President Donald Trump and other senior officials in the administration throughout the high-stakes dialogue.

"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.

"That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And that's what we've tried to achieve through these negotiations."

Vance added that he had spoken with Trump "a half dozen times, a dozen times, over the past 21 hours."

He also kept in close contact with 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 said.

Vance gave the update on the talks at a podium flanked by American flags.

He spoke alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Vance met with Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf for the historic face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday afternoon.

Mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the negotiations marked the highest-level talks held between US and Iranian officials since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution over half a century ago.

But it failed to produce results, despite Vance's optimistic tone on Friday, telling reporters: "I think it's going to be positive."

One of the key goals for Trump, aside from reopening the Strait of Hormuz -- was a reduction in Iran's nuclear enrichment program.

But that issue became a sticking point.

Esmaeil Baqhaei, spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, posted on social media on Sunday that discussions "were held on various dimensions of the main negotiation topics, including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, lifting of sanctions and a complete end to the war against Iran and in the region."

He added that the success of the talks depended on US' "acceptance of Iran's legitimate rights and interests."

Earlier Saturday, Trump told reporters outside the White House that the US had achieved military victory against Iran.

On the talks in Pakistan, he said that "regardless of what happens, we win. Let's see what happens – maybe they make a deal, maybe they don't. It doesn't matter. From the standpoint of America, we win."

Trump repeated his claims from earlier Saturday that the US had begun to clear the Strait and sunk Iran's minelaying ships.

A move denied by Iranian officials.

US Central Command said that two Navy guided missile destroyers had begun clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the Associated Press reports.

The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy "transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps," CENTCOM posted on X.

However, Iran's state media reported that Iran's joint military command said that "initiative over the passage of any vessel rests with the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman was expected to take precedence in negotiations, as 20 percent of the world's oil supply flowed through it.

Its effective closure has sent global oil prices soaring following the initial strikes in the US-Israel war with Iran on Feb 28.

It took out Iran's top leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and national security chief Ali Larijani and others.

A two-week temporary ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan on April 7, remains in effect.