Details have not been disclosed. But the news came suddenly. On Sunday, April 12, just one day after the start of negotiations between Iran and the United States in Islamabad, Pakistan, these discussions did not lead to an agreement, delaying hope for an end to the conflict. “We simply did not manage to reach a situation where the Iranians accepted our conditions. I think we have shown great flexibility,” declared J.D. Vance, the American vice president, as the exchanges continued late into the night.
“The reality is that we need a clear commitment from them: they must not seek to acquire nuclear weapons or the means to achieve them quickly,” he explained, referring to Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which could have civil but also military uses. At the end of a brief press conference, Vance left Islamabad, hinting that the United States remained ready to conclude an agreement based on their latest proposal: “We will see if the Iranians accept it,” he declared, without elaborating.
The case of the Strait of Hormuz
According to the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, “many messages and texts have been exchanged between the two parties.” The diplomat published a long message on X, in which he also did not specify the points of contention. “Over the past twenty-four hours, discussions have focused on various dimensions of the main negotiation topics, including the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and the complete end of the war against Iran and in the region,” he wrote. The success of this diplomatic process depends on the determination and good faith of the opposing party, the refraining from any excessive demand and illegitimate requests, as well as the acceptance of Iran’s legitimate rights and fair interests.”
Ahead of the negotiations, Iran and the United States were at odds on several key points of the ceasefire. Iran notably refuses to relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire came into effect, a highly strategic maritime route. Since the beginning of the conflict, tankers have had to request passage authorization and pay transit fees, actions that have severely disrupted global energy markets. Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Tehran on this issue, prompting quick intervention. “We have started to secure the Strait of Hormuz to assist countries around the world,” he wrote on X on Saturday, authorizing a mine-clearing operation in the area.
Frozen assets
Iran’s request to unblock several billion dollars of frozen assets appeared as another major point of contention, according to Pakistani officials. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, referred to this in a message published on X Friday, indicating that it was one of the two “mutually agreed” measures that have not yet been implemented— the other related to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
“These two points must be resolved before the start of the negotiations,” he asserted. The assets mentioned seem to correspond to those that the Biden administration had committed to unblocking as part of a hostage release agreement reached in 2023. However, the process was still pending when Hamas launched its attack on October 7, 2023, against Israel, after which Iran’s access to these funds was blocked following reports of its involvement. Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has insisted on the need to obtain compensations and considers the payment of war-related reparations as a guarantee against future American attacks.
What Now?
One question remains: what will the United States do now? This failure puts the Trump administration in a difficult position: engage in long and complex discussions with Tehran on the future of its nuclear program, or reignite a war that has already caused the most severe energy disruption of the modern era, potentially leading to a prolonged confrontation over the control of the Strait of Hormuz.
White House officials told the New York Times that the decision would be up to President Donald Trump, currently in Florida to attend a Ultimate Fighting Championship match. The bet of the American president— which he reiterated several times in recent weeks— was that Iran would eventually yield to a massive demonstration of American military power, marked by over 13,000 targets hit according to the Pentagon. But from the Iranian side, the intention was to show that no military pressure would be enough to make them yield.
“The heavy losses suffered by our leaders, our loved ones, and our fellow citizens have further strengthened our determination to defend the interests and rights of the Iranian nation,” declared the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as J.D. Vance left the premises without any result. The situation could evolve, but the reluctance of the American administration to engage in long and complex negotiations with Iran is evident. Donald Trump believes he has won the conflict and, according to special envoy Steve Witkoff, Iran should simply “surrender.”
