JD Vance says US, Iran failed to reach an agreement: 'They have chosen not to accept our terms'

JD Vance described the outcome as worse for Iran, while Donald Trump maintained that the US had already secured victory regardless of a deal
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)


ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: Vice President JD Vance, addressing the press, said the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement after hours of high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan, warning that the outcome was “much more” damaging for Tehran than Washington.

Vance confirmed that talks had concluded without a breakthrough, even as President Donald Trump maintained that the US had already secured victory regardless of the outcome.

Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran as Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions listen on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran as Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions, listen on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

Islamabad talks end without a deal

Vance said Iran declined to accept US terms after nearly a full day of closed-door discussions.

"The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement," Vance said. "And I think that's bad news for Iran, much more than it's bad news for the United States of America."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, left, meets with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan for talks about Iran. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
US Vice President JD Vance meets with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan, for talks about Iran (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

He added that Washington had clearly outlined its expectations during the negotiations.

"So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement, we've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on, and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on," Vance stressed. "And we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."

JD Vance keeps details private

Vance declined to share specifics about the discussions, citing the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

Cameramen film U.S Vice President JD Vance's speech telecast by state run television after his meeting with Iranian officials at a media center in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, April 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Cameramen film US Vice President JD Vance's speech, telecast by state-run television, after his meeting with Iranian officials at a media center in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sunday, April 12, 2026 (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

"Well, I won't go into all the details because I don't want to negotiate in public after we negotiated for 21 hours in private," Vance said.

The talks in Islamabad had stretched over two days, with no official timeline for future engagement announced.

Trump claims victory

Even as negotiations ended without a deal, Trump projected confidence about the US position.

“We win regardless of what happens,” the commander-in-chief told reporters outside the White House. “Maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t.” He reiterated that stance, saying the outcome of the talks would not affect what he described as a decisive US advantage.

Trump also pointed to ongoing military operations in the region, including efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route.



“We have minesweepers out there. We’re sweeping the strait,” he said.

The president further claimed that US forces had significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities, stating they had “defeated their navy” and “defeated their air force.”

He also cautioned that China would face “big problems” if it moved to support Iran.

The developments come as tensions remain high following recent US and Israeli military actions, with uncertainty lingering over whether diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran will resume.

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