President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military and government sites.
Trump set a deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face broad strikes on its critical infrastructure. Hours before the deadline expired, Trump said he had agreed to suspend planned bombing for two weeks if Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi then said that "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported the ceasefire with Iran, but that Lebanon -- where intense Israeli strikes continued -- was not covered by the agreement, despite Iranian protests.
US 'failed to gain the trust' of Tehran's delegates, Iranian negotiator says
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator, blamed the U.S. for the failure to reach a deal during the talks in Pakistan, citing what he described as a lack of trust.
Ghalibaf, who serves as Iran’s parliament speaker, said on social media that Iran had put forward "forward-looking initiatives," but the U.S. negotiating team failed to win Tehran’s trust during the 21 hours of negotiations.
A vendor pushes his cart past a giant billboard reading "The Strait of Hormuz remains closed" at the Revolution Square in Tehran on April 12, 2026.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
He added that Washington now understands Tehran's logic and principles, saying that "it’s time for it to decide whether it can earn our trust or not."
-ABC New’s Rashid Haddou
Apr 12, 2026, 4:47 AM EDT
Pakistan calls on US, Iran to uphold ceasefire
Pakistan said on Sunday it would seek to continue to facilitate "engagement and dialogue" between the United States and Iran.
"We hope that the two sides continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond," Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister, said in a statement.
A Pakistani Ranger walks past a billboard for the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on April 12, 2026.
Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images
"It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire," Dar added.
The minister's statement described the talks held in Islamabad as "intense and constructive," despite their failure reach an agreement.
-ABC News' Rashid Haddou
Apr 11, 2026, 10:08 PM EDT
No deal with Iran after 21 hours of negotiations, Vance says
Vice President JD Vance, leading a U.S. delegation for high-stakes talks with Iran, said the two sides have not reached a deal despite negotiations lasting some 21 hours in Islamabad, Pakistan.
"The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement," Vance said in brief remarks following the conclusion of the talks. "And I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America. So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement."
When asked where the negotiations deteriorated, Vance said he wouldn't get into the full details but that the U.S. needed a firm commitment from Iran that it would not seek a nuclear weapon.
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.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
"The simple fact is we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon," Vance said. "That is the core goal of the President of the United States."
Although Vance said during his remarks that Iran's enrichment facilities have been destroyed, he said the U.S. did not see the "fundamental commitment" from the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon in the long term.
"I think that we were quite flexible, we were quite accommodating," Vance told reporters. "The president told us you need to come here in good faith and make your best effort to get a deal."
But he said Iran did not accept U.S. terms.
In addition to Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, took part in the talks.
Vance said the team communicated with President Donald Trump and other members of the Cabinet throughout the negotiation process.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Emily Chang
Apr 11, 2026, 6:45 PM EDT
Marathon high-stakes talks continue late into the night
The trilateral in-person negotiations between the U.S, Iran and Pakistan have continued into the early morning hours, according to the White House.
Asked about the state of ongoing negotiations being led by Vice President JD Vance, a senior White House official told ABC News: "15 hours and counting!"
The statement came shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET, which is 4:30 a.m. in Islamabad where the talks are taking place.
Both sides met first with Pakistani leaders before the historic sitdown Saturday, the highest level face-to-face meeting between the U.S. and Iran in 47 years.
In addition to Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner took part in the talks with top Iranian officials, including the speaker of the Iranian Parliament.
