ISLAMABAD - The United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after 21 hours of talks in Pakistan, officials from both countries said on Sunday. The closed-door meetings took place in Islamabad over two days. They were mediated by Pakistani officials.
The talks were meant to ease tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief. But both sides said major differences remain. A senior US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that “significant gaps” on uranium enrichment levels and sanctions exemptions could not be closed. The official added that no future meetings have been scheduled.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the talks were “serious and constructive” but did not produce a breakthrough. The statement said the US must first lift all sanctions before Tehran returns to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The US official rejected that condition, calling it “a non-starter.”
The talks were the first direct negotiations between the two countries in more than a year. Pakistan offered to host the discussions as part of its effort to reduce regional tensions. A Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson said both delegations showed “a genuine willingness to engage” but acknowledged that more work is needed.
US-Iran negotiations have stalled since 2022, when indirect talks through European mediators collapsed. The 2015 nuclear deal limited Iran’s uranium enrichment to 3.67%. But after the US withdrew from the accord in 2018 under President Donald Trump, Iran began enriching to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade level. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in March that Iran now has enough enriched uranium for several nuclear bombs, though Tehran says its program is for peaceful purposes.
During the Islamabad talks, the US side sought to cap Iran’s enrichment at 3.67% and allow snap inspections by UN nuclear monitors. Iran demanded a complete removal of oil and banking sanctions imposed by the US since 2018. Neither side moved on these core demands, according to two diplomats briefed on the talks who spoke to the Associated Press.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met separately with both delegations. He called for continued dialogue and offered to host future meetings. No dates were announced.
Analysts say the failure to reach a deal raises the risk of wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz if its oil exports are restricted. The US has kept naval forces in the region. The Biden administration has said it prefers diplomacy but has not ruled out other options.
Both governments left the door open for more talks. But officials from both sides said no progress is expected before the US presidential election in November.