Hormuz, nukes and 'unreasonable demands' of US: Iran reveals what led to failure of talks in Islamabad

The United States and Iran held extensive peace talks in Islamabad overnight with key issues on the negotiating table, including opening of the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear issue preparations, and lifting sanctions on the Islamic Republic. US Vice President J D Vance, the key negotiater, announced that the two sides failed to reach an agreement, as Iran refrained from accepting the terms.

"Unreasonable demands" by the United States scuppered talks in Islamabad to end the war in the Middle East, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said as J D Vance departed from Pakistan after 21 hours of ceasefire negotiations.

"The Iranian delegation negotiated continuously and intensively for 21 hours in order to protect the national interests of the Iranian people; despite various initiatives from the Iranian delegation, the unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations. Thus the negotiations ended," AFP quoted IRIB as saying on Telegram.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that over past 24 hours, the two sides held discussions on main topics of negotiation including the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear issue preparations, lifting sanctions, complete end of war against Iran, the region.

Also read: US-Iran historic ceasefire talks in Pakistan conclude before dawn

The two sides reached an agreement on number of points in the talks, but views differed on two important issues, and it did not lead to an agreement, he underlined an a statement after Vance announced failure of peace talks.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that excessive demands from the US hindered a common framework and agreement to end the war.

Iran is not in a hurry for negotiations, the news agency said, citing an informed source, adding that that there will no change in situation in Strait of Hormuz as long as US does not agree to a 'reasonable deal'.

As talks progressed for 21 hours, various issues including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear rights were among the points of concention, Iran's Press TV said.

The success of peace talks between the US and Iran depends on Washington avoiding "excessive demands" and "unlawful requests," the Iranian spokesperson stated earlier.

"The success of this diplomatic process depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side, refraining from excessive demands and unlawful requests, and the acceptance of Iran's legitimate rights and interests," Baqaei wrote on X.

Also read: Iran and US fail to reach a deal after 21 hours of negotiations in Pakistan

A conservative analyst close to the Iranian government, Ali Gholhaki, said that the talks fell aprt because the US demanded zero enrichment and "removal of 400 kilos of uranium" from the country and "management of the security of the Strait of Hormuz on their own terms."

Gholhaki said the United States also provided no commitment to end Israel's bombing of Lebanon. "It seems the Americans didn't come to negotiate!" he said.



Although opening of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key point of negotiations, Iran government representatives have also highlighted the nuclear issue, sanctions and end of strikes on Lebanon as key agreement points to end the war.