It's no deal: JD Vance returns to US after Iran 'chose not to accept American terms' during 21 hours of talks

James Saunders
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:46:21 +0000

The US and Iran have not reached any deal after 21 hours of peace talks in Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance has said.

In a three-minute-long briefing after negotiations, Mr Vance said there were "shortcomings" and the Iranians "chose not to accept the US terms".

"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," he said.

"So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are."

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

"We were quite flexible," he continued, adding: "We need to see affirmative confirmation that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon."

Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons was Donald Trump's motive for striking the country - both this year and last.

The VP himself said that was Mr Trump's "core goal", and revealed he had spoken with the President half a dozen times during the talks.

Last night, and before the press conference, Mr Trump said it "makes no difference" to him if a deal was made.

"Regardless of what happens, we win," he added.

Mr Vance did not address what the lack of breakthrough would mean for the ceasefire with Iran - or for the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian state TV reporter had earlier said the talks would continue on Sunday - which appeared to have been dashed by the American exit.

The US motorcade was seen leaving the Serena hotel in the Pakistani capital mere minutes after Mr Vance wrapped up.

Tasnim, Iran's state news agency, reported that the Americans' "excessive" demands had "hindered" any deal.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said he was now working to open up the strait, which he says the US is doing on behalf of countries who are either "afraid or weak or cheap".

PEACE IN IRAN? READ MORE:

Iran peace hopes teeter on the edge as 'dishonourable' Tehran violates ceasefire in Strait of Hormuz

Keir Starmer warns of ‘fragile’ ceasefire with Iran as he stresses there is ‘work to be done’

Donald Trump threatens 'bigger and better' strikes if Iran refuses to sign 'real agreement'

"We were not helped by Nato," he said.

On social media, he said reopening the waterway would be a "favour to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others".

The President did not directly address the UK.

"Incredibly, they don’t have the courage or will to do this work themselves," he added.

Mr Trump's negotiating duo - special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner - had accompanied the Vice President in Islamabad.

There, they met Iran's parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, marking the highest-level talks between the two adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Iranian delegation arrived on Friday dressed in black in mourning for the dead Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran had insisted it would only deal with a more senior US official - in particular, JD Vance, seen as the strongest opponent of overseas military intervention inside the White House.