TEHRAN: Iran has played down the lack of progress in recent deal with the United States, stressing that reaching a comprehensive agreement in a single sitting was never anticipated.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said expectations had been realistic from the outset, noting that complex issues between Tehran and Washington require time and multiple rounds of dialogue.
“From the beginning, it was clear that an agreement would not be achieved in one session,” he said in remarks carried by state broadcaster IRIB, adding that diplomatic engagement with regional partners including Pakistan would continue.
The comments came after high-level talks in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, with US Vice President JD Vance confirming his delegation’s departure following nearly 21 hours of negotiations.
Vance acknowledged the failure to secure a deal and reiterated Washington’s key demand: firm guarantees that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons or develop the capability to rapidly produce them. He emphasized that these conditions reflect the core policy of President Donald Trump.
On the Iranian side, officials blamed what they described as “excessive” US demands for the impasse. Despite the setback, Tehran signaled that diplomatic channels remain open, with technical teams from both sides expected to continue exchanging proposals and documents.
While the first round ended inconclusively, both sides appear to be leaving the door open for further negotiations suggesting the process is far from over.
