Negotiations between the US and Iran have collapsed after more than 20 hours of talks in Pakistan. According to US Vice President JD Vance, the effort broke down when Iran refused to accept key demands to halt its nuclear weapons ambitions.

The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran broke out on February 28 and has now persisted for just over a month and a half. The fighting has been marked by rapid escalation, with high-ranking leaders killed, military facilities destroyed, and Iranian counterattacks directed at US bases, Israel, and interests in neighboring countries.

In early April, the parties agreed to a temporary, two-week ceasefire to allow space for peace negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan—a pause described as crucial to the prospects for a diplomatic solution.

On Sunday morning local time, Vice President JD Vance announced that the negotiations had stalled.

– The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. We are returning to the US without a deal, he said at a press briefing.

When JD Vance was asked why the negotiations had not moved forward, he pointed to the nuclear issue as decisive. According to him, the talks broke down over the US demand that Iran refrain from developing nuclear weapons.

– This is the US President’s core objective, and it is what we have tried to achieve through these negotiations.

Iran: US demands are unreasonable

According to international media, Iran has stated that the US demands were unreasonable and that there is disagreement on the nuclear issue and control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes daily.

Iran further claims that the responsibility for reaching a peace agreement lies with the US, and that the country feels no urgency to resume the negotiations. It also remains unclear if or when new talks might be initiated.

Watch Vice President JD Vance comment on the talks from Pakistan: