American Twist to Discussions in Pakistan as Washington’s Demands Fail to Gain Traction
JACQUELYN MARTIN / AFP
At the American twist, Vice President JD Vance led the discussions defending Washington’s demands.
The deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz announced by Donald Trump has become the central point of tension between Washington and Tehran. The talks this weekend in Pakistan have failed, extinguishing any possibility of a quick agreement. Led on the American side by Vice President JD Vance, who presented what he described as the “best and final offer,” these negotiations did not bring the parties closer. Subsequently, the White House revealed the conditions set by Washington to Tehran. Conditions that Iran rejected.
According to a US official cited by CNN, these “red lines” outline what the U.S. now expects to move forward, with the Iranian nuclear program at the heart of the dispute.
Washington demands a complete halt to uranium enrichment, as well as the dismantling of key facilities already weakened by U.S. strikes in June 2025.
The U.S. also demands the recovery of over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium, which American intelligence services believe are buried underground.
But the American demands do not stop there. They are part of a broader approach that goes beyond the nuclear issue.
Beyond Nuclear
Washington wants Iran to engage in a regional framework of “peace, security, and de-escalation,” including its allies in the Middle East. A way to expand negotiations to the full range of regional tensions.
Another major sticking point is Tehran’s support for several armed groups. The U.S. demands an end to financing movements like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, seen as conduits for Iranian influence in the region.
The issue of the Strait of Hormuz also crystallizes tensions. A strategic passage for global hydrocarbon supply, it has become a central leverage point in the power struggle between the two countries.
Washington demands its full opening without tolls. An demand Iran rejects, as they have de facto established passage rights and threatened to retaliate against any foreign military presence.
Faced with this refusal and the deadlock in the discussions, Donald Trump announced the deployment of a U.S. naval blockade as of 4 p.m. CEST on Monday, April 13. He stated his intention to prevent Tehran from exploiting the situation. The U.S. military affirms it will allow traffic to and from non-Iranian ports. This decision raises concerns of a new escalation.
For Washington, the goal now is to increase pressure on a weakened Iran after several weeks of conflict and push them to return to the negotiation table by accepting these conditions, while Iran denounces excessive demands and maintains its position.
In a statement released on Sunday, April 12, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. of sabotaging the talks. He accuses the U.S. of “maximalist” positions, changing demands, and announcing a blockade even when an agreement seemed close. “Goodwill begets goodwill. Hostility begets hostility,” he concluded.
