A 21-hour closed-door meeting between the United States and Iran in Islamabad ended without any agreement to halt ongoing hostilities. The failure of the high-level talks has placed the fragile ceasefire between the two nations at serious risk. Both Washington and Tehran blamed each other for the breakdown, with US Vice President JD Vance calling the outcome a major setback for Iran.

Iran’s foreign ministry described the failure as expected, noting that it was unrealistic to resolve all issues in a single session. The conflict, now in its 44th day, has already claimed thousands of lives, most of them Iranian civilians. The war has also driven global oil and gas prices sharply higher, creating new strains on the world economy.

Despite the setback, Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar said his country would continue mediating between the two long-time rivals. Analysts warned that the collapse of the talks could prolong instability in the Middle East, with direct consequences for global politics and economic stability.