U.S. and Iran End Ceasefire Talks, Blame Each Other as Fragile Peace Hangs in Balance

Islamabad: The United States and Iran concluded face-to-face negotiations on Sunday without reaching an agreement to end the ongoing conflict, casting doubt on a fragile two-week ceasefire that is set to expire on April 22. U.S. officials cited Iran’s unwillingness to commit to abandoning its nuclear program as the primary reason for the breakdown in talks, while Iranian representatives attributed the failure to U.S. actions, though they did not specify the contentious issues.

Both parties have not indicated what steps will be taken once the ceasefire lapses. Pakistani mediators have urged all involved to maintain the ceasefire, emphasizing that both sides have remained entrenched in their positions, placing the responsibility for the stalemate on one another. Vice President JD Vance stated that the U.S. requires “an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” following a lengthy 21-hour negotiation session.

Core Disputes

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation, remarked that it is time for the United States to determine whether it can earn Iran’s trust. While he did not detail the core disputes in his social media posts, Iranian officials previously indicated that the negotiations faltered over two or three critical issues, blaming what they termed U.S. overreach.

Iran has consistently denied any intention of pursuing nuclear weapons but maintains its right to a civilian nuclear program. Experts suggest that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, while not weapons-grade, is only a short technical step away from being capable of producing nuclear arms.

Since the onset of hostilities on February 28, the conflict has resulted in significant casualties: at least 3,000 deaths in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. The war has also inflicted lasting damage on infrastructure across multiple Middle Eastern nations. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz has severely restricted oil and gas exports from the Persian Gulf, contributing to soaring energy prices globally.

Prospects for New Dialogue

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that his country aims to facilitate renewed dialogue between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days. He emphasized the importance of all parties adhering to the ceasefire commitment.

The deadlock in negotiations, along with Vance’s uncompromising proposal for Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, mirrors the nuclear discussions held in Switzerland earlier this year. Despite President Donald Trump’s assertion that the subsequent conflict was intended to pressure Iranian leaders into relinquishing their nuclear goals, both sides appeared to maintain their original positions after six weeks of fighting.

While there has been no confirmation regarding the resumption of talks, Iran has expressed openness to continuing discussions, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. A Tehran resident, Mohammad Bagher Karami, stated, “We have never sought war. But if they try to win what they failed to win on the battlefield through talks, that’s absolutely unacceptable.”

Iran’s 10-Point Proposal

The negotiations were characterized by sharply contrasting proposals and differing assumptions about each side’s leverage to conclude the war. Prior to the talks, the ceasefire was already jeopardized by deep-seated disagreements and ongoing Israeli strikes against Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran’s 10-point proposal outlined a demand for a guaranteed end to hostilities and sought control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. It also called for a cessation of military actions against Iran’s regional allies, specifically requesting an end to Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah.

Pakistani officials indicated that the U.S. had presented a 15-point proposal that included monitoring mechanisms and a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program. They noted that this proposal also addressed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s traded oil typically passes.

Mine-Clearing Operations

During the negotiations, the U.S. military reported that two destroyers transited the vital waterway in preparation for mine-clearing operations, marking the first such activity since the conflict began. However, Iran’s state media claimed that the country’s joint military command denied these reports.

President Trump remarked, “We’re sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” as discussions extended into the early hours of Sunday morning. The ongoing impasse raises further questions about the situation in Lebanon, where Israel has continued its military strikes, asserting that the ceasefire agreement does not apply to that region. Both Iran and Pakistan have contested this claim.

Israel and Lebanon Negotiations

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are anticipated to commence on Tuesday in Washington, as confirmed by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office. This development follows Israel’s unexpected announcement to authorize talks, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations. Protests erupted in Beirut on Saturday in response to the planned negotiations.

Israel seeks to hold Lebanon’s government accountable for disarming Hezbollah, akin to provisions outlined in a ceasefire agreement from November 2024. However, the militant group has historically resisted efforts to diminish its influence and capabilities.

Source: www.emirates247.com

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Published on 2026-04-12 15:57:00 • By the Editorial Desk