Islamabad, 12 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Peace talks between the United States and Iran ended without reaching an agreement, US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday.

The negotiations, held in Islamabad with Pakistani officials acting as mediators, began on Saturday and were aimed at reaching a lasting settlement to the six-week-old conflict.

Vance said the negotiations lasted for 21 hours but he would return to the US without an agreement.

"We’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news," he said at a brief press conference.

"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," Vance said.

"We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on, and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on. And we made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."

Vance said the US was seeking confirmation that Iran would not seek a nuclear weapon.

"The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon."

Shortly before Vance's press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X that the two sides had discussed a range of issues. These included the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear issues, reparations and the lifting of sanctions.

"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.

Iranian news agencies Tasnim and Fars had earlier cited “excessive demands” by the US, identifying the Strait of Hormuz as a central sticking point to the talks.

The Iranian delegation was insisting on the “preservation of military achievements,” Tasnim said, in what could be a reference to Tehran's missile programme.

However, both reports said the biggest point of contention was the Strait of Hormuz and related issues.

The strait, a key shipping channel, links the Gulf with the Indian Ocean and is a passageway connecting the region’s major oil-producing countries with global markets.

Iran seized control of the strait at the start of the war launched by the US and Israel in late February.

US President Donald Trump made opening the strait a condition for the current two-week ceasefire.

Photo: epa