ISLAMABAD — A last-minute proposal presented by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to an Iranian delegation ahead of failed peace talks in Islamabad included sweeping demands targeting Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional posture, according to Fox News.
The proposal called for Iran to immediately halt all uranium enrichment activities — including both low- and high-level processing — and to dismantle its major nuclear development facilities. It also required Tehran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a key point of concern for Western powers who fear it could be diverted toward weapons production.
According to the report, Washington framed the conditions as part of a broader effort to impose long-term restrictions on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and prevent any pathway toward nuclear armament.
In addition, U.S. officials urged Iran to accept a wider regional framework aimed at de-escalation, confidence-building, and security cooperation involving key Middle Eastern allies. The framework was said to include mechanisms for monitoring compliance and reducing military tensions across flashpoint areas.
The U.S. demands further included a complete halt to Iran’s financial and military support for proxy groups operating in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen — a longstanding point of contention between Washington and Tehran.
Another major condition was the full reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil shipping routes, without imposing transit fees or restrictions on international vessels — a move aimed at ensuring global energy stability.
Iranian officials, however, rejected the proposal outright, maintaining their existing conditions and refusing to make concessions on what they described as sovereign defense rights and regional influence. Tehran has consistently argued that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that its regional alliances are essential to its national security.
The rejection effectively derailed the talks, highlighting the deep and persistent divisions between Washington and Tehran. Analysts say the collapse underscores the difficulty of bridging gaps over nuclear limits, regional power dynamics, and mutual distrust.
The failed talks come at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with growing fears that diplomatic deadlock could further destabilize the region and increase the risk of broader confrontation.
