ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN - Peace talks between the United States and Iran ended inconclusively after delegations from both countries failed to agree on key terms to end the conflict. The talks, which took place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, lasted about 21 hours and ended Sunday morning without any agreement.

According to U.S. officials, Vice President J.D. Vance led the talks, saying after their conclusion that while the two sides had achieved „some shift in understanding of each other's positions,“ fundamental differences remained. Washington, he said, continues to insist on curbs on Iran's nuclear programme and on guarantees of regional security, while Tehran demands the immediate lifting of sanctions and recognition of its security interests.

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, expressed strong criticism of the United States. He said that the US side „has not been able to win the confidence of the Iranian people“, although Iran, according to him, has put forward „constructive and realistic proposals“. According to Ghalibáf, the negotiations stalled mainly on the issue of gradual easing of sanctions and international monitoring mechanisms.

Diplomatic sources suggest that the atmosphere of the talks has been tense from the beginning, not least because of the recent escalation in the region. Although the two delegations agreed on the need to continue dialogue, a specific date for the next meeting has not yet been set. Analysts say the time factor is crucial, as further prolongation of the conflict increases the risk of a wider destabilisation of the Middle East.

The talks in Pakistan were seen as an important attempt to reopen diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran, which have long been burdened by mutual mistrust. The choice of neutral ground was supposed to help ease tensions, but this has so far failed to materialise.

The international community reacted to the outcome of the negotiations with cautious disappointment. A number of European and Asian countries called on both sides to continue diplomatic efforts and stressed the need to prevent further deterioration of the security situation. According to experts, the space for compromise remains open, but will require significantly greater political will on both sides.

gnews.cz - GH