Iranian leaders says they 'couldn't trust US' in collapsed Islamabad talks

Iranian leaders said on Sunday that the US failed to build trust during high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad, as both sides traded blame for the collapse of talks that spanned just over 24 hours.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation, said Iran had put forward "advanced initiatives" during the discussions, but that Washington "ultimately failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round".

"The United States understood our logic and our principles, and it must now decide whether it is capable of earning our trust or not," Ghalibaf said in a post on X.

He added: "Before the negotiations began, I emphasised that we possess the necessary goodwill and determination, but we do not trust the other side due to our experiences in the previous two wars".

Ghalibaf stressed that Tehran views "diplomacy backed by strength as a complementary approach alongside military struggle to secure the rights of the Iranian people", adding that "Iran will not stop for a moment in seeking to consolidate the achievements of the forty days of national defence", in reference to the recent conflict prior to last week’s ceasefire.

He also thanked Pakistan for hosting the talks, describing it as a "friendly and brotherly country" for facilitating the negotiations.

Former Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif likewise blamed Washington for the failure of the talks, accusing it of attempting to impose its terms on Tehran.

"No negotiations, at least with Iran, will succeed on the basis of our terms versus your terms," Zarif said, adding:

"The United States must learn: it cannot dictate terms to Iran. It is not too late to learn. Yet".

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said discussions had covered a wide range of issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, war reparations, and ending the conflict.

He said progress had been made on several fronts but that differences remained on "two or three key issues", preventing a final agreement.

Baghaei added that the success of diplomacy depended on the seriousness and good faith of the other side, and its willingness to avoid "excessive and unlawful demands" while recognising Iran’s "legitimate rights and real interests".

The talks, mediated by Pakistan, ran from Saturday morning until early Sunday and involved the exchange of numerous draft texts and messages between the two sides.

Pakistani sources said that major sticking points included Israel's continued assault on Lebanon, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's nuclear programme, with disagreements over these issues contributing to the breakdown of negotiations.

US Vice President JD Vance said earlier that talks had failed after Washington presented what he described as a "final and best offer" to Iran.