Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded without a deal after 21 hours of discussions in Islamabad, Pakistan. Iranian officials refused to accept American terms, according to the vice president.
Speaking from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Vance said Iran has "chosen not to accept our terms" and characterized the outcome as worse for Tehran than for Washington. "The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement," Vance said. "And I think that's that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America."
The talks, described by Vance as "substantive discussions," involved the U.S. team seeking assurances that Iran would not develop a nuclear weapon. The vice president said the United States was unwilling to compromise on its "red lines" during the negotiations.
Vance was joined by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the former president's son-in-law, as part of a senior delegation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf represented Tehran.
The vice president said he remained in consistent contact with President Donald Trump throughout the 21-hour period, speaking with the president "a half dozen times, a dozen times" as well as with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
The negotiations came more than a month after the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28 and followed a fragile ceasefire announced by Trump earlier this week.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats and progressive commentators have expressed concern that the collapsed talks increase the risk of military escalation in the Middle East. Some have questioned whether the U.S. position was too rigid to allow for diplomatic progress.
Progressives have noted that continued tensions with Iran could destabilize the region further and strain relationships with allies who favor diplomatic engagement. Concerns have been raised about the potential human cost if negotiations fail entirely.
Some Democratic voices have called for a return to the diplomatic framework that existed before the Trump administration, arguing that sustained engagement offers the best path to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative supporters have praised Vance's firm stance, arguing that the United States should not accept terms that fail to ensure Iran permanently abandons its nuclear program. Republicans have emphasized that the U.S. red lines, particularly on nuclear weapons development, are non-negotiable.
GOP lawmakers have defended the administration's approach, noting that President Trump made clear what consequences Iran would face if the ceasefire arrangement falls apart. Conservative commentators have characterized Iran's refusal to accept U.S. terms as a signal that Tehran is not serious about de-escalation.
Supporters of the administration's position argue that showing weakness in negotiations would only encourage further Iranian provocations. They point to the 21 hours of talks as evidence that the U.S. engaged in good faith while remaining firm on core security interests.
What the Numbers Show
The negotiations lasted 21 hours, representing an extensive diplomatic effort. The talks occurred more than a month after Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28, marking the latest development in an escalating series of events.
The U.S. delegation included Vice President Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. The Iranian side was represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Vance said the U.S. made its "final and best offer" to Iranian officials, leaving the door open for Tehran to accept American terms. The specific terms Iran rejected were not detailed by the vice president.
The Bottom Line
The collapse of US-Iran talks without a deal leaves the fragile regional ceasefire in doubt. The United States has presented what it calls its final offer, and the administration says it will now assess whether Iran will accept those terms.
The coming days will determine whether diplomatic channels remain open or whether the region faces potential escalation. Vance indicated the U.S. team will continue to monitor Iran's response to the American proposal, which includes requirements that Iran commit not to seek a nuclear weapon and abandon tools that could enable rapid nuclear capability.
What to watch: Whether Iran signals willingness to return to negotiations, how regional allies respond to the failed talks, and whether the ceasefire announced earlier this week holds or collapses in the aftermath of these developments.