Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Islamabad after a 21-hour negotiating session with Iranian officials, said the United States and Iran had substantive discussions but did not reach an agreement. He called the absence of a deal “bad news,” saying the consequences fall primarily on Iran, and emphasized that the U.S. had clearly set out its red lines — what it could and could not accept — but that Iran declined to meet those terms.
Vance said the central objective for the U.S. was a firm, long-term Iranian commitment not to pursue a nuclear weapon or develop the capabilities that would enable rapid weaponization. He noted that Iran’s previous enrichment facilities had been destroyed, but stressed the need for a durable guarantee that Tehran will not develop nuclear weapons now or in the future.
Declining to disclose all details of the negotiations, Vance said he did not want to “negotiate in public” after private talks. He confirmed that frozen Iranian assets and other topics were part of the discussions, but said U.S. negotiators were unable to secure Iranian acceptance of their terms.
Vance described the U.S. approach as having been “quite flexible” and said the delegation negotiated in good faith under the direction of President Trump. He said he was in frequent contact with the president during the talks — “a half dozen times, a dozen times” over 21 hours — and also remained in touch with Admiral Cooper, other members of the National Security team, and adviser Scott Bessent.
He said the U.S. left with a final, best offer and will wait to see whether Iran chooses to accept it. As he concluded his remarks, reporters asked about potential implications for the Strait of Hormuz and other regional security concerns.