After a night without sleep and moments of tension in Islamabad, Iranian and American authorities concluded their high-level discussions in decades without a concrete breakthrough, but 11 sources familiar with the negotiations said that the dialogue remains alive.
The weekend meeting to try to resolve the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, held four days after the ceasefire announcement last Tuesday, was the first direct encounter between authorities from the two countries in more than a decade and the most significant commitment since Iran’s Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Inside the luxurious Serena Hotel in Islamabad, the talks unfolded in two separate wings and a common area — one for the U.S. delegation, another for the Iranians and a space for trilateral meetings with Pakistani mediators, Reuters’ operational team told Reuters.
Among the many issues at play were the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit point for global energy supply that Iran effectively blocked and that the U.S. had pledged to reopen, in addition to the Iranian nuclear program and international sanctions against Tehran.
Cellphones were not allowed in the main room, which forced the delegates — including the U.S. Vice President, JD Vance, and the Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf — to step out during breaks to relay messages to their governments, said two of the sources.
“There was a great sense of hope during the negotiations that there would be progress and the two sides would reach an agreement. However, things changed in a short time,” said a Pakistani government source.
Another source involved in the talks said the parties were “very close” to an understanding and were “80% there,” before stumbling over decisions that could not be made on the spot.
Two senior Iranian sources described the atmosphere as heavy and hostile, adding that, while Pakistan tried to ease the tone, neither side showed a real willingness to de-escalate tensions.
At one point, the mood began to calm
Nevertheless, the two Iranian sources said that, early Sunday morning, the atmosphere had improved and the possibility of extending the talks for another day began to be considered.
Disagreements, however, persisted. A U.S. official said that the Iranians did not fully grasp that Washington’s central objective was to reach an agreement that would guarantee that Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon. Tehran’s concerns included distrust of American intentions.
This account, based on sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, provides an early view of the internal dynamics of the meeting: how the mood in the room changed, how discussions ended after signals they might be extended, and how further dialogue remains open.
There was no immediate response from the Iranian government to a request for comment on the points reported.
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, said on Monday that Iran “called this morning” and that “they would like to close a deal.” Reuters could not immediately verify the claim.
One American official, commenting on Trump’s statement, said there was continued engagement between the United States and Iran and some progress toward reaching an understanding.
Asked, White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said that the U.S. position did not change during the Islamabad meeting.
“Iran will never be able to have a nuclear weapon, and President Trump’s negotiating team has held that red line and many others. The engagement continues toward a deal,” he said.
“Ups and Downs”
A Middle East-based diplomat said that talks between mediators and the Americans continued after Vance left Islamabad, while the source involved in the negotiations said Pakistan remained relaying messages between Tehran and Washington.
“I want to tell you that there is still a concerted effort to resolve the issues,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.
Despite the numerous obstacles to peace, both sides appear to have strong reasons to consider de-escalation.
U.S. strikes are unpopular domestically and would hardly topple the Iranian theocratic system, while Tehran’s choking off of energy supplies hurts the global economy and fuels inflation just months ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Moreover, the damage of the war to an already fragile Iranian economy could further weaken the country’s authorities, just weeks after protests that were only suppressed with violent repression and mass deaths.
In Islamabad, the former rivals gathered to try to chart a path toward a long-term agreement, after a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire halted six weeks of fighting that killed thousands and disrupted global energy supplies.
The central point of contention is the belief, among Western countries and Israel, that Iran seeks a nuclear bomb — something Tehran denies.
A White House official said that the United States wanted Iran to end all uranium enrichment, dismantle the major nuclear facilities, hand over highly enriched uranium, accept a broader peace, agree to a security architecture that includes regional allies, end financing for allied groups, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls.
Iran’s demands included a guaranteed permanent ceasefire, assurances that there would be no future attacks against the country and its regional allies, suspension of primary and secondary sanctions, unlocking of all assets, recognition of its right to enrichment, and continued control of Hormuz, Iranian sources said.
Four of the 11 sources said that at times the dialogue seemed close to producing at least a framework agreement, but ultimately stalled over three points: the Iranian nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and the amount of frozen assets to which Tehran sought access.
The Iranian sources said that most substantive discussions in Islamabad occurred between Vance, Qalibaf, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
“There were ups and downs. There were moments of tension. People would leave the room and then come back,” a security official said.
Pakistani representatives, including the Army Chief, Asim Munir, and the Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, circulated among the delegations through the night to keep the talks on track, five sources in the country said.
“How can we trust you?”
The negotiations stretched for more than 20 hours, with the hotel’s on-duty team eating, sleeping, and working on site after undergoing quick background checks, operation members reported.
When the topic shifted to guarantees — both non-aggression assurances and sanctions relief — Araqchi’s normally calm tone grew firmer, the two Iranian sources said.
According to them, he asked: “How can we trust you if, at the last Geneva meeting, you said the U.S. would not attack while diplomacy was ongoing?”
The joint U.S. and Israel attack on Iran began two days after a previous round of negotiations between the two countries in Geneva.
Besides differences over Hormuz, sanctions, and other issues, the delegations also disagreed on the scope of a potential agreement. While Washington focused on the nuclear dossier and Hormuz, Tehran wanted a broader understanding, two sources said.
At a tense moment, voices could be heard raised outside the main room before Munir and Dar called for a tea break and brought the two groups back to separate rooms, according to the government source.
“Our best and final offer”
In the final stages of the discussions, which progressed into Sunday morning, U.S. delegates moved around much more frequently between the negotiating room and the area reserved for their delegation than the Iranians, a senior Pakistani official said.
One American official said that the vice president arrived in Islamabad with the aim of sealing an agreement and reaching a mutual understanding. According to that official, Washington views prolonged negotiations with Iran with suspicion, believing Tehran employs stall tactics and is reluctant to make concessions.
Despite the impasse, when Vance appeared before reporters to announce the end of the round, his remarks suggested that further interactions remain possible.
“We’re leaving here with a very simple proposal, a framework for understanding that is our best and final offer,” he said. “We will see if the Iranians accept it.”
