US NEEDED TO SALVAGE TARNISHED CREDIBILITY ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

We have been engaged in this task for the past 21 hours. We held several crucial discussions with the Iranians. However, the bad news is that we were unable to reach an agreement. I believe this is worse news
for Iran than it is for the United States. Therefore, we are returning to Washington without having reached any agreement. We made it very clear what our ‘red lines’ are—specifically, what terms we are willing to accept and on which points we will not yield to their demands. Yet, they refused to accept our conditions.”

Sources within the Iranian delegation stated, “The U.S. was merely looking for a plausible pretext to walk away from the negotiating table. The Americans needed these talks to salvage their tarnished credibility on the international stage. Despite their defeat in the war with Iran and the ensuing stalemate, they remained unwilling to lower their expectations.” Iran currently has no plans for a subsequent round of negotiations.
When asked whether diplomacy had run its course, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei replied, “Diplomacy never ends.” Baghaei further remarked, “The diplomatic mechanism serves as a means to safeguard, defend, and uphold national interests.” He stated, “Dialogue between Iran, Pakistan, and their allies will continue.”

Ismail Baghei noted that Iran and the United States discussed a range of issues. While a consensus was reached on several points, differences persisted regarding two or three specific matters. These negotiations took place within an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. Naturally, we should not have expected—right from the outset— that an agreement would be reached in a single meeting. During the two-week ceasefire, Iran had outlined ten specific conditions. Iran remained firm on these demands. The Iranian
side stated that discussions held in Islamabad covered various issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear program, war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and the complete cessation of ongoing conflicts in the region-including those involving Iran and Lebanon. The delegations from the United States and Iran held direct, face-to-face talks, yet these, too, yielded no concrete results.

Now, Even if President Trump wants to end the war he will not be allowed to do so by the U.S. arms manufacturers, the real rulers of America, who thrive on war, as that generates more demand for arms, and thus increases their profits. Peace reduces the demand for weapons, and thus reduces their profits. Trump dare not disobey his masters, the arms manufacturers, in deeds whatever he may say in words.

Unless the Strait of Hormuz is opened to shipping, prices of oil and gas will soar all over the world, including in America. This will cause a strong anti-US Government reaction among the American people ( there have already been huge ‘No Kings’ demonstrations in many US cities ), and this will further damage the prospects of the Republicans in the coming November mid-term elections to Congress. The only way to open the Strait of Hormuz is for the US-Israeli forces to attack the region with great force, including using
ground troops.

Not restarting the war against Iran means admitting defeat, and that too from an underdeveloped country. No big power easily does this, for it amounts to a tremendous loss of face, and thus diminishes its  influence in the world. One may recall that the Americans kept bombing Vietnam almost till the conclusion
of the war, with B-52 Operation Linebacker bombings as late as December 1972.

Before departing for Washington, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the press, stating, “The bad news is that we have failed to reach an agreement. I believe this constitutes far worse news for Iran than it does for the United States.” Vance’s demeanor betrayed signs of fatigue, frustration, and the palpable sting of failure. He remarked, “We are returning to the United States without having secured any agreement. They
have refused to accept our conditions. We have been engaged in this process for the past 21 hours and have held several critical discussions with the Iranians. That, at least, is the good news. The bad news remains that we were unable to reach a settlement.”

With the talks between Iran and the United States ending inconclusively, numerous questions have now arisen regarding the future of the Middle East—a region widely regarded as the world’s primary source of energy. Given the absence of any firm commitment from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, global oil and
gas supplies are expected to remain disrupted. Meanwhile, during his stay in Islamabad, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance offered no indication as to what steps would be taken next. He indicated that Iran could still return to accept the United States’ final and best offer, but he provided no details regarding any future negotiations aimed at resolving their differences. If both nations remain adamant in their respective stances, there is a likelihood that conflict in the Middle East could once again intensify. Furthermore, the entire world may continue to grapple with an energy crisis.

Meanwhile, The third round of historic, face to- face talks concluded days after a fragile, two week ceasefire was announced as the war that has killed thousands of people in West Asia entered its seventh week.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil-Baqaei released a statement on X on Sunday  morning, saying, “The Iranian negotiators are employing all their capabilities, experience, and knowledge to safeguard Iran’s rights and interests. The heavy loss of our great elders, dear ones, and fellow countrymen has made our resolve to pursue the Iranian nation’s interests and rights firmer than ever before.”

Baqaei added that while “discussions were held on various dimensions of the main negotiation topics, including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, lifting of sanctions, and the complete end to the war against Iran and in the region”, “the success of this diplomatic process depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side, refraining from excessive demands and unlawful requests, and the acceptance of Iran’s legitimate rights and interests”.

The latest bargaining lasted 21 hours, J D Vance said. “But the simple fact is that we need to see 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,” Vance told reporters. “That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.”

The vice president said he spoke with Trump “a half dozen times, a dozen times, over the past 21 hours” and also spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the United States Central Command.

We were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith,” Vance said, speaking at a podium in front of a pair of American flags with special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to his side. “And we leave here, and we leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”

Trump had said he would suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks. Vance’s comments did not indicate what will happen after that time period expires or if the ceasefire will remain in place. After his brief remarks, Vance boarded his government plane to leave Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the US military said two destroyers transited the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran’s state media, however, said the joint military command denied that.“We’re sweeping the strait. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” Trump told journalists as talks continued and the time approached 2 a.m. in Islamabad. He called negotiations “very deep.” Iranian state TV noted what it called “serious” differences.

The US delegation led by Vance and the Iranian one led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf discussed with Pakistan how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll has surpassed 2,000.

Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, the most direct U.S. contact had been in 2013 when President Barack Obama called newly elected President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. Obama’s secretary of state, John Kerry, and counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif later met during negotiations toward the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -a process that lasted well over a year.

Now the far broader talks featured Vance, a reluctant defender of the war who has little diplomatic experience and warned Iran not to “try and play us,” and Qalibaf, a former commander with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard who has issued some of Iran’s most fiery statements since fighting began.

Iran’s state-run news agency said the three-party talks began after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met.Iran’s delegation told state television it had presented “red lines” in meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including compensation for damage caused by US-Israeli strikes that launched the war on February 28 and releasing Iran’s frozen
assets.

The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen West Asian countries. Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.Reflecting the high stakes, officials from the region said Chinese,
Egyptian, Saudi and Qatari officials were in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate talks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

In Tehran, residents told The Associated Press they were sceptical yet hopeful after weeks of airstrikes left destruction across their country of some 93 million people.“Peace alone is not enough for our country because we’ve been hit very hard, there have been huge costs,” 62-yearold Amir Razzai Far said.

Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. Around a fifth of the world’s traded oil had typically passed through on over 100 ships a day. Only 12 have been recorded transiting since the ceasefire.

Even if President Trump wants to end the war he will not be allowed to do so by the U.S. arms manufacturers, the real rulers of America, who thrive on war, as that generates more demand for arms, and thus increases their profits. Peace reduces the demand for weapons, and thus reduces their profits. Trump dare not disobey his masters, the arms manufacturers, in deeds, whatever he may say in words.

Unless the Strait of Hormuz is opened to shipping, prices of oil and gas will soar all over the world, including in America.This will cause a strong anti-US Government reaction among the American people ( there have already been huge ‘No Kings’ demonstrations in many US cities ), and this will further damage the prospects of the Republicans in the coming November mid-term elections to Congress.

The only way to open the Strait of Hormuz is for the US-Israeli forces to attack the region with great force, including using ground troops.

Not restarting the war against Iran means admitting defeat, and that too from an underdeveloped country. No big power easily does this, for it amounts to a tremendous loss of face, and thus diminishes its influence in the world.

One may recall that the Americans kept bombing Vietnam almost till the conclusion of the war, with B-52 Operation Linebacker bombings as late as December 1972

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Tehran was entering negotiations with “deep distrust” after strikes on Iran during previous talks. Araghchi, part of Iran’s delegation in Pakistan, said Saturday that his country was prepared to retaliate if attacked again.

ran’s 10-point proposal ahead of the talks called for a guaranteed end to the war and sought control over the Strait of Hormuz. It included ending fighting against Iran’s “regional allies,” explicitly calling for a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. While, the United States’ 15-point proposal includes restricting Iran’s nuclear programme and reopening the strait.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office has said, after Israel’s surprise announcement authorising talks despite the countries lack of official relations.But as thousands in Lebanon protested the planned negotiations on
Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had postponed a planned trip to Washington “in light of the current internal circumstances

The day the Iran ceasefire deal was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

JD Vance on Sunday said no headway was made during 21 hours of negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, even as a ceasefire in the Middle East hangs by a thread. Vance said “They have chosen not to accept our terms. The President (Donald Trump) said we have to come in good faith and try to make a deal. Unfortunately, there was no headway. He said that the US sought an affirmative commitment that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon or try to develop one in the coming years. “Their nuclear program and the
enrichment facilities they had before have been destroyed. But we do not see a commitment to not develop more nuclear weapons.”

Soon after the talks in Islamabad failed, President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 12) said the US Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after US-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement or next diplomatic steps in sight.In his first public comments after the 21-hour talks, Trump sought to eliminate Iran’s key source of leverage in the war by exerting strategic control over the waterway that was responsible for the shipping of 20% of global oil
supplies before fighting began.Vance’s statement came hours after Trump said that regardless of the outcome of the talks, the US has won.

“We totally defeated that country. Maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t. From the standpoint of America, I don’t care,” he said. He went on to say that the US has defeated Tehran “militarily”. The President claimed extensive damage to Iran’s military capabilities, asserting that its naval and air assets had been neutralised. “We defeated their navy, we defeated their air force, we defeated their anti-aircraft. We defeated their radar,” Trump said, adding that “their leaders are all dead.”

A US blockade could further rattle global energy markets and prices for oil, natural gas and related products. It was not immediately clear how it might be carried out, but Trump told Fox News the goal was to ensure all ships could transit: “It’s going to be all or none, and that’s the way it is.”

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran’s side, said it was time for the United States “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.” Iranian officials earlier said talks fell apart over two or three key issues, blaming what they called U.S. overreach.

The Iranian delegation carried with them to Islamabad blood-stained clothes, books, and photographs of the 168 children killed on February 28 in a U.S.-Israeli attack on a school in Iran.’

Over there Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue in the coming days. Iran said it was open to continuing the dialogue, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency  reported.The European Union urged further diplomatic efforts. The foreign minister of Oman, located on
the Strait of Hormuz’s southern coast, called for parties to “make painful concessions.” The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin “emphasised his readiness” to help bring about a diplomatic settlement in a call with Iran’s president.

Iran’s nuclear program was at the center of tensions long before the US and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28. The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,055 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen countries. Tehran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons but insisted on its right to a civilian nuclear program. The landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump later pulled the US out of, took well over a year of negotiations.
Experts say Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, though not weapons-grade, is only a short technical
step away. An Iranian diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of closed-door talks, denied that negotiations had failed over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but it has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” the official said.

Inside Iran, there was fresh exhaustion and anger after months of unrest that began with nationwide protests against economic issues and then political ones, which turned into weeks of sheltering from US and Israeli bombardment.“ 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,” 60-year-old Mohammad Bagher Karami said in
Tehran.

Israel has said the ceasefire did not apply in Lebanon, but Iran and Pakistan said it did.

Though Israel’s strikes have calmed in Beirut, its attacks on southern Lebanon have intensified alongside the ground invasion it renewed after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in the war’s opening days. Israel wants Lebanon’s government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, but the militant group has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades.

Vance’s statement came hours after Trump said that regardless of the outcome of the talks, the US has won. “We totally defeated that country. Maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t. From the standpoint of America, I don’t care,” he said.He went on to say that the “US has defeated Tehran “militarily”.The President claimed extensive damage to Iran’s military capabilities, asserting that its naval and air assets had been
neutralised. “We defeated their navy, we defeated their air force, we defeated their anti-aircraft. We defeated their radar,” Trump said, adding that “their leaders are all dead.”

Among the key talking points of the negotiations apart from Tehran’s nuclear program was the Strait of Hormuz, the critical marine chokepoint on the Persian Gulf which remains all but blocked by Iran.The US
Navy continues operations to sweep mines on the strait, where shipping activity remains severely disrupted. “One of the things that’s happening is that boats are sailing up and heading out to our country, big, beautiful tankers and we’re loading them up with oil and gas and everything else. And it’s pretty beautiful thing to see,” he added.

“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” Trump posted. “Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.” The destroyers are part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guards Corps, US CENTCOM stated. Iran denied the claim, warning that military ships attempting the passage “will be dealt with severely”. Tehran added that passage of the strait would only be “granted to civilian vessels under specific conditions.”

The talks in Pakistan were the among highest diplomatic engagements since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The highest-level direct contact had been when President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in September 2013 called newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.