21 hours of talks—and still no trust. The ceasefire holds, but barely.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker has accused the United States of failing to build trust during marathon negotiations in Islamabad, after both sides left the table without reaching a deal to end weeks of conflict.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation, said Iran had presented “forward-looking” proposals but that Washington had not done enough to convince Iranian negotiators.
“The U.S. has understood Iran’s logic and principles,” Ghalibaf wrote on social media. “Now it is time for them to decide whether they can earn our trust or not.”
The talks, hosted by Pakistan, lasted more than 20 hours and marked one of the highest-level direct engagements between the two countries in decades. The U.S. delegation was led by JD Vance and included senior figures such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Despite the high-level presence, negotiations ended without agreement, leaving a fragile ceasefire in place but under increasing strain.
Both sides have traded blame for the breakdown. U.S. officials have signaled frustration over Iran’s positions on uranium enrichment and control over the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran has pointed to what it sees as excessive demands and a lack of meaningful concessions.
The failure to reach a deal has raised concerns that hostilities could resume, particularly given the war’s impact on global energy markets and regional stability. Since the conflict began, oil prices have surged and critical infrastructure across the Middle East has been targeted.
For now, however, the ceasefire continues to hold.
Diplomats say the outcome underscores a familiar pattern in U.S.-Iran relations: deep mistrust, competing narratives, and negotiations that stop short of resolution. Whether talks resume—or tensions escalate—will likely depend on whether either side is willing to shift its position in the coming days.
Until then, the region remains in a precarious pause.
