Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that recent indirect negotiations with the United States in Islamabad came close to an agreement before collapsing. He attributed the failure to what he termed US "maximalism" in its demands. The talks, which were mediated by Oman, reportedly focused on de-escalating tensions and potentially reviving aspects of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA.
US officials have not publicly commented on the specifics of the Islamabad discussions but have consistently maintained that any diplomatic engagement with Iran is focused on addressing its nuclear program and regional activities. The Biden administration has expressed a willingness for diplomacy but insists Iran must curb its uranium enrichment and end support for proxy groups.
The negotiations in Pakistan's capital represent one of several recent indirect contacts between the two nations, which have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980. The last major public effort to restore the JCPOA stalled in 2022. Regional analysts note that despite the reported proximity to a deal, significant gaps on core issues like sanctions relief and nuclear safeguards remain unresolved.
