US leaves Iran peace talks without agreement

US Vice President J.D. Vance said Washington had presented what he described as its “final and best” offer, but Iran chose not to accept the conditions, particularly those related to abandoning efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

Fragile ceasefire at risk

The failure to reach a deal threatens a fragile two-week ceasefire that had been announced earlier, during which the US paused attacks in anticipation of diplomatic progress.

While the US delegation is returning home, Iran signalled that discussions may continue at a technical level, with experts from both sides expected to exchange documents.

Wider regional implications

In his brief press conference, Vance did not mention reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which around 20% of global energy supplies pass. Iran has closed the passage since the outbreak of the war, contributing to a rise in global oil prices and resulting in the deaths of thousands of people.

The talks were the first direct high-level engagement between the two countries in over a decade. The broader conflict has already disrupted global energy supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20% of the world’s energy shipments.