JD Vance says ‘Ball is in the Iranian court’ after US exits Islamabad talks without deal

WASHINGTON, DC: JD Vance said the “ball is in the Iranian court” after high-level US-Iran talks ended without a deal, indicating that further progress now depends on approval from leadership in Tehran.

The vice president said negotiations in Pakistan showed signs of progress but ultimately stalled, as Iranian representatives lacked the authority to finalize an agreement. He added that the US remains open to a deal under specific conditions set by President Donald Trump.

‘Ball in Iranian court’

Speaking on 'Special Report with Bret Baier,' Vance said, “I do think that we acquired some knowledge about how the Iranians are negotiating, and this is ultimately why we left Pakistan, because what we figured out is that they were unable, I think the team that was there, one that was unable to cut a deal, and they had to go back to Tehran, either from the Supreme Leader or somebody else, and actually get approval to the terms that we had said.”

“So again, whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court, because we put a lot on the table,” he added.

Vance indicated that while discussions were constructive, the absence of decision-making authority on the Iranian side prevented a final agreement.

Talks show partial progress

Vance said the negotiations were not entirely unsuccessful, noting areas of advancement during the discussions.

“I wouldn't just say that things went wrong. I also think things went right,” he said.

“We made a lot of progress, but we also made it very clear, and I think this is part of the progress we made," Vance added.

“What the terms were under which the United States could make some accommodation, what terms we were flexible on, and what things we absolutely needed to see in order for the president of the United States to feel like he was getting a good deal," he said.

He described the meeting as a rare high-level engagement between US and Iranian officials under the current leadership in Tehran.

Conditions for normalization

Vance said Trump remains willing to pursue a more normalized relationship with Iran if key conditions are met, particularly around nuclear and security concerns.

“We also made clear, Brett, that we actually would be very happy. The President of the United States has said he would be very happy if Iran were treated like a normal country, if it had a normal economy, if its people were able to prosper and thrive,” Vance said.

But he stressed that normalization would require Iran to change its approach.

“But he said that in order for Iran to be a normal country economically, “it's going to have to be a normal country from the perspective of not pursuing a nuclear weapon, and it's going to have to be a normal country from not pursuing te*****m.”