He underlined that the main sticking point remained Iran’s nuclear programme. “But the simple fact is that we need to see a positive commitment that they will not seek nuclear weapons, and they will not seek equipment that would enable them to quickly acquire nuclear weapons,” Vance said, adding that this remains “the main goal of the President of the United States.”“So we go back to the United States without a deal,” he said.Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said after the talks that the United States should avoid “excessive demands and unlawful requests”, indicating Tehran’s strong objection to Washington’s terms.The talks marked a rare and significant diplomatic moment, with Vance becoming one of the highest-ranking US officials to engage directly with Iranian counterparts in decades, following a period of intense military confrontation that had pushed the region to the brink of wider conflict.Despite the rupture, Iran indicated that diplomacy remains on the table. In a statement posted on Twitter, Iranian officials said talks would continue “despite some differences”, suggesting both sides are keen to keep the channel open even after the latest setback.Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said that many controversial issues were discussed in the discussions held over the past 24 hours. “In the last 24 hours, various aspects of the main issues of the talks were discussed, including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, lifting of sanctions and a complete end to the war in Iran and the region,” he said.However, Tehran made it clear that the success of any future agreement would largely depend on Washington’s approach. “The success of this diplomatic process depends on the seriousness and goodwill of the opposing sides, refraining from making ‘extreme and unlawful demands’, and accepting Iran’s rights,” the spokesperson said.In a parallel statement, Bakayi reiterated that the talks depend on the United States avoiding “excessive demands” and recognizing Iran’s “legitimate rights and interests”, indicating that Tehran views Washington’s conditions – particularly on nuclear sanctions – as overly harsh.Iranian state media also reported that the latest round of talks failed to produce any breakthrough. According to Fars News Agency, the two sides “failed to reach any agreement on their differences in the latest round of talks”, underscoring the depth of the divide.Behind the scenes, talks in Pakistan were described as intense and sustained, with Islamabad playing the role of mediator. Iranian officials said the discussions began Saturday morning and continued without interruption, with “numerous messages and texts” exchanged between the delegations.In a detailed statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry cast the resolution with skepticism. “For us, diplomacy is a continuation of the holy jihad of the defenders of the Iranian land. We have not and will not forget the experiences of America’s violations of promises and wrongdoings,” the statement said.It said Iran is committed to pursuing its national interests through all available means. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to using all tools, including diplomacy, to secure national interests and protect the well-being of the country.”The talks come at a delicate moment, following a tense pause in hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, with the outcome of which global markets and regional stability are closely linked. Major flashpoints including the strategic Strait of Hormuz were at the center of discussion.Iran’s emphasis on issues such as war reparations, sanctions relief and “a complete end to the war against Iran and in the region” highlights the broad scope of the talks, which extend beyond the nuclear question to economic and geopolitical demands.However, for Washington, the immediate priority is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, a position Vance reiterated strongly during and after the talks.

Although failure to secure a deal could raise concerns about renewed tensions, the fact that the two sides have not completely walked away suggests that diplomacy is still in play. With talks expected to continue, the coming days could prove crucial in determining whether the current standoff will escalate or lead to fresh efforts for an agreement.