Islamabad Talks — Highest-Level US-Iran Direct Talks Since 1979 — Collapse After 21 Hours

JD Vance leads a 300-member US delegation to Islamabad for direct face-to-face talks with a 70-member Iranian team led by Foreign Minister Araghchi — the highest-level direct US-Iran contact since 1979. After 21 hours of negotiations, the talks collapse over Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Islamabad Talks, held on April 11-12, 2026, were unprecedented in the history of US-Iranian relations: the most senior direct, face-to-face negotiations between the two countries since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The American delegation of 300 was led by Vice President JD Vance, flanked by Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran sent a 70-member team led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan provided the venue and mediated, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar facilitating. After approximately 21 hours of marathon negotiations, the delegations left Islamabad without a deal. Vance said the central sticking point was Iran's nuclear program: "We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon." Araghchi insisted Iran was "inches away from an MoU" and accused the US of moving the goalposts and maximalist demands. The main unresolved issues were Iran's nuclear enrichment program and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the failure, Trump said he no longer cared about negotiations and announced a naval blockade of Iran, effective immediately.