The recently held talks between the high-powered U.S. and Iranian delegations in Islamabad reflected that the two sides lacked flexibility and political will to reach an agreement. According to American Vice-President J.D. Vance, the Iranian delegation in Islamabad lacked the authority to reach an agreement with the U.S., and that is the reason the talks remained inconclusive.

Iran argued that the talks failed to yield positive results because the United States refused to honour its trust towards Iran. Whereas the U.S. made it clear that Iran failed to realise that America had red lines, namely not to accept, by any means, Iranian nuclear ambitions. Enrichment of uranium by Iran above 60% is sufficient to proceed towards manufacturing a nuclear device.

That type of concern forced the U.S. to seek a categorical commitment from Iran that it would not use its enriched uranium for manufacturing nuclear weapons. Since Iran failed to give such an assurance, the U.S. delegation decided to leave the negotiating table.

For a variety of reasons, Iran argues that there is a serious trust deficit with the United States because, on several occasions, it has let down Tehran. In June 2025 and February 2026, when talks on the nuclear issue were going on between the United States and Iran in Geneva, America attacked Iran.

How can Tehran now trust the United States when, in the past, it failed to honour talks? Otherwise, on other issues like the lifting of sanctions and regime change, the U.S. pursued a flexible approach. But the real bone of contention which has emerged in the recent past is related to the Strait of Hormuz, its closure and blockade.

After the inconclusive nature of U.S.-Iran talks, American President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a naval blockade of Iranian ports, making it clear that its navy would not allow the exit or entrance of any ship at the Strait of Hormuz. Is the U.S. Navy capable of pursuing that difficult and gigantic task, particularly when Iran has made it clear that it will not allow any act which........

© The Friday Times