The Hindu is reporting that face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, concluded Sunday without an agreement. The discussions, which lasted 21 hours, failed to resolve differences between the two nations, casting doubt on a fragile two-week ceasefire in West Asia. U.S. officials stated the talks collapsed because Iran refused to commit to abandoning its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Conversely, Iranian officials attributed the breakdown to U.S. overreach. Neither side provided details on post-truce plans, as the current ceasefire is set to expire on April 22. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar indicated that Pakistan would attempt to facilitate further dialogue. The primary point of contention was Iran's nuclear program. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized the need for Iran to affirm it would not seek nuclear weapons or the means to develop them. Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf suggested the U.S. needed to decide if it could earn Iran's trust. An anonymous Iranian diplomatic official denied the nuclear issue was the cause of the talks' failure, asserting Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy. Following the talks, the U.S. military announced it would blockade Iranian Gulf ports starting Monday, while allowing passage for ships not connected to Iran through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that any military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire and would be met with a harsh response.
