Iran-US negotiations expected soon after Islamabad talks, says Khawaja Asif

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said a fresh round of Iran-US negotiations was expected soon. The remarks came after talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement. Despite the setback, Asif said there were no negative signs after the meeting. The diplomatic track, Asif indicated, still showed forward movement.

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The weekend meeting involved 21 hours of discussions between Iran and the United States on Saturday. It was described as the first such engagement since 1979, as senior officials took part. Even so, the sides did not reach a lasting peace deal. The aim was to end hostilities linked to the recent conflict.

Iran-US negotiations: Asif signals cautious optimism

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Asif said there had been a "sense of satisfaction\" afterwards. Asif said \"no negative developments so far\" were seen following the talks. \"Only positive progress has been observed,\" Asif said. Asif added that the next round of Iran-US negotiations was expected soon.

The Express Tribune reported that Asif also addressed Pakistan’s regional role. Asked if Pakistan would shape the region’s future in a decisive way, Asif pointed to faith. Asif said that \"ultimate decisions rest with Allah.\" The comments came as attention stayed on whether diplomacy could hold.

Iran-US negotiations: US says Tehran rejected terms

Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation in Islamabad, said Iran did not accept Washington’s terms. JD Vance said the US had presented its final and best offer for ending the war. The statement followed the breakdown of the negotiations. It also showed key gaps between the two sides remained.

Hours after the talks failed, US President Donald Trump posted on social media about the outcome. Donald Trump said the negotiations with Iran failed as Iran is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions. The claim added another point of dispute to the wider standoff. It also came soon after the Islamabad effort stalled.

Iran-US negotiations: Pakistan’s mediation and conflict background

Pakistan led the diplomatic push that brought the two sides to the table in Islamabad. The talks became possible after an appeal by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this week. That appeal helped secure a pause in the fighting. Even with the pause, the weekend talks did not produce a final deal.

The conflict began after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. The fighting affected global energy markets and disrupted trade, the report said. Asif’s comments suggested the diplomacy remained active despite the failed round. For now, attention is on when Iran-US negotiations will restart.

With inputs from PTI