- The talks mark the highest-level contact since the 1979 revolution.
- The marathon negotiations lasted around 21 hours.
- The issue of the Strait of Hormuz adds to a complex agenda.
Iran has stressed that diplomacy never ends after long-awaited talks between Iran and the United States ended without a deal in Islamabad, according to Tasnim news agency.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, the news agency reported, said that Tehran and Washington had reached an understanding on “a number of issues” and that there were “differences of opinion on 2 or 3 important issues.”
The talks in Islamabad were the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, prompting retaliation from Tehran that has plunged the Middle East into conflict and the world economy into tumult.
After ending the marathon 21-hour discussion, US Vice President JD Vance said he was leaving having made Tehran the “best final offer.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the negotiations on his side, said the United States failed to gain Iran’s trust but understood its logic and principles.
Meanwhile, Baqaei said the talks were held in an atmosphere of mistrust. “It is natural that we should not have expected to reach an agreement in a single session,” the spokesman was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
He stressed that “diplomacy never ends” and said: “This tool is to protect national interests, and diplomats must perform their duties both in times of war and peace.”
Baqaei said the success of the talks depended on the “seriousness and good faith of the opposite side” and acceptance of Iran’s legitimate rights and interests.
The spokesperson also noted the complexity of the issues, saying: “Some new issues were added to these negotiations, such as the Strait of Hormuz issue, each of which has its own complexities.”
