Zarif: Islamabad Talks Failed Due to U.S. Attempt to 'Dictate' Terms

Tehran - BORNA - Zarif shared his remarks on X (formerly Twitter) in direct response to statements made by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance following the conclusion of the marathon talks in Pakistan.

Quoting Vance’s remark that "they [Iran] have not chosen to accept our terms," Zarif responded: "Aha. No negotiation—at least not with Iran—will succeed based on 'our/your terms'."

The veteran diplomat emphasized that Washington must change its fundamental approach to diplomacy with Tehran. "The U.S. must learn: you cannot dictate your terms to Iran. It is not too late to learn. Yet," Zarif added.

The Islamabad negotiations, which lasted over 21 hours and involved high-level delegations from both nations, ended without a final agreement early Sunday morning. While the U.S. side claimed it acted in "good faith," Iranian officials and observers noted that the insistence on unilateral demands and the failure to address Iran’s strategic rights—including the full lifting of sanctions and war reparations—remained the primary obstacles to a successful outcome.

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