Both countries are blaming each other for the failure of peace talks\nin Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday (12\/04), after lengthy negotiations\nthat produced no agreement to end the war that began six weeks ago with\nattacks by the United States (US) and Israel against Iran.<\/p>\n
US officials said the negotiations failed because Iran was unwilling\nto commit to abandoning its nuclear programme. However, Tehran blamed\nWashington for the failure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to see a firm commitment that they will not pursue nuclear\nweapons and will not seek means that would allow them to quickly acquire\nthem,\u201d said US Vice President JD Vance after talks with Iran.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran\u2019s Parliamentary Speaker and head of the\ndelegation, said responsibility now lies with Washington. \u201cIt is time\nfor the United States to decide whether they can earn our trust,\u201d he\nstated.<\/p>\n
No agreement on Hormuz or Iran\u2019s nuclear programme<\/p>\n
The meeting in Islamabad marked the first face-to-face negotiations\nbetween the United States and Iran in over a decade, as well as the\nhighest-level involvement since the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution. The\ntalks took place following a ceasefire agreed upon earlier in the\nweek.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Tasnim News Agency reported that US demands, deemed\n\u201cexcessive,\u201d hindered progress. Other Iranian media noted agreements on\nsome issues, but deep differences remained regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear\nprogramme and control over the Strait of Hormuz. After the negotiations\nfailed, US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would\nblockade the strait.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry described the negotiation\natmosphere as filled with mistrust, stating that an agreement in a\nsingle meeting was unrealistic.<\/p>\n
Pakistan\u2019s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both parties to maintain\nthe ceasefire agreed on Tuesday (07\/04), calling it \u201cvery important\u201d for\npeace efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are leaving this place with a simple proposal, a method of\nunderstanding that is our final and best offer. We will see if Iran\naccepts it,\u201d said US Vice President JD Vance before departing\nPakistan.<\/p>\n
Several issues remain deadlocked<\/p>\n
US-Iran negotiations remain stalled on various issues, and analysts\nassess that the differences are difficult to bridge. Fatemeh Aman from\nthe Atlantic Council said the conflict is structural, not merely\ntactical.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe US wants restrictions on Iran\u2019s nuclear programme, regional\nde-escalation, and shipping lane security as security imperatives.\nMeanwhile, Iran demands sanctions relief, recognition, and protection.\nIt is more about status than mere restrictions,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Farwa Aamer from the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York added\nthat both sides have different approaches to next steps, both regarding\nthe nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
According to Aman, Washington wants concessions first, while Tehran\ndemands relief first. With minimal trust and opposing interests, the\nnegotiations failed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese talks failed because the end goals of both parties are not\naligned,\u201d she emphasised.<\/p>\n
Can the ceasefire hold?<\/p>\n
Analysts are cautiously optimistic that the ceasefire will hold and\nattacks will not resume immediately, with backchannel diplomacy\npotentially sustaining the agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis ceasefire is holding, but it is fragile,\u201d said Fatemeh Aman.\n\u201cIt is not based on a political agreement but a temporary pause formed\nby caution and short-term calculations. Both parties are merely managing\nthe situation, not resolving it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Islamabad talks began on Saturday (11\/04), a few days after the\nceasefire was announced, while the six-week war that killed thousands\nand shook global markets was still ongoing.<\/p>\n
Farwa Aamer is also cautiously optimistic: \u201cIt is important for the\nceasefire to hold, for mediation channels to remain open, and for both\nparties to continue the diplomatic process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
However, US Vice President JD Vance did not clarify what would happen\nafter the two-week ceasefire ends or whether it would be extended.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe risk is gradual erosion,\u201d said Aman. \u201cLocal incidents,\nmiscalculations, or actions by allied groups could test the limits of\nrestraint. Without follow-up diplomacy, this ceasefire remains\nvulnerable. It may hold in the short term but lacks long-term\nstability.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther talks are likely, but not in the near future\u201d<\/p>\n
Analysts assess that direct negotiations between the United States\nand Iran in the near future are unlikely, given rising tensions and the\nlatest failure. However, diplomacy is not over, as both parties still\nhave strong interests in continuing talks.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther talks are likely, but not in the near future,\u201d said Fatemeh\nAman. \u201cNo party wants to appear to concede after a failed round of\nnegotiations. There will likely be a temporary pause for both sides to\nreassess positions and bargaining power. If negotiations resume, they\nwill probably not directly address the most difficult issues but start\nwith narrower technical steps to reduce risks without requiring major\nconcessions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Farwa Aamer believes quiet diplomacy and mediation will\nstill play a role in paving the way for the next round. \u201cHowever, that\nwill depend on how the United States and Iran determine their next\nsteps,\u201d she said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-iran-negotiations-deadlocked-what-are-the-next-steps-1776070258", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }