Day 44 | US-Iran talks in Islamabad end with no agreement

This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 45 of the war, as Trump says US will blockade Hormuz after Iran talks collapse.

Read more: Day 45 | Trump says US will blockade Hormuz after Iran talks collapse

The United Kingdom has decided not to participate in any plan to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Financial Times citing informed sources.

The move reflects a British preference for de-escalation and avoiding broader military confrontation in the strategically vital waterway.

Opposition to transit fees

A UK government spokesperson said no fees should be imposed on ships transiting the strait, rejecting any attempts to enforce new financial or sovereign conditions on international maritime traffic.

Officials stressed the importance of keeping the passage open for global trade, given its central role in energy shipments.

Focus on maritime security

Instead of joining a blockade, the UK is working with France and other international partners to form a maritime coalition aimed at protecting freedom of navigation.

The initiative is focused on ensuring the safety of oil tankers and maintaining secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz without escalating tensions further.

• Iran rejects US blockade threats as “ridiculous”
• Navy says forces are fully prepared for confrontation
• Tehran claims constant monitoring of US naval movements

Iran’s navy commander dismissed recent statements by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, about imposing a naval blockade as “ridiculous,” signaling Tehran’s firm rejection of the proposal.

The remarks come amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

Military readiness emphasized

The commander stressed that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to confront any military escalation in regional waters, warning against what he described as potential “adventurism.”

He said Iran maintains a high level of readiness to respond to any threats in the area.

Monitoring US naval activity

Iranian officials also claimed that naval forces are continuously monitoring all US military movements in the region.

“Every US naval vessel is within our sight and fire range,” the commander said, underscoring Tehran’s warning as tensions continue to escalate.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited military positions in southern Lebanon on Sunday, wearing military uniform and a protective vest during what he described as a field tour inside an area he claimed is part of a “security buffer zone.”

The visit was presented by 'Israeli' media as part of efforts to reinforce 'Israel’s' narrative of maintaining operational control in areas south of the Litani River.

Video footage has emerged showing what was described as a Hezbollah drone strike targeting a position held by ‘Israeli’ army soldiers in the town of Taybeh in southern Lebanon, according to claims from affiliated sources.

The attack reportedly involved a drone striking a military site, amid continued cross-border escalation between Hezbollah and ‘Israeli’ forces along the southern Lebanon front.

Air raid sirens were activated in Nahariya and several towns in the western Galilee after rockets were detected coming from Lebanon, according to reports from the 'Israeli' Home Front Command.

The alerts prompted widespread warnings across northern areas of ‘Israel’, as authorities monitored incoming fire and assessed the situation.

Hezbollah claims artillery strike

Hezbollah had said it carried out an artillery attack targeting a gathering of 'Israeli' forces near the Al-Aassi hill area in the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.

The group said the operation was part of ongoing cross-border exchanges along the frontier.

'Israeli' airstrikes hit southern Lebanon

Meanwhile, two 'Israeli' airstrikes targeted the towns of Sajad and Haboush in southern Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent.

The strikes come amid continued escalation between Hezbollah and 'Israeli' forces, with near-daily exchanges of fire reported along the border area.

• US President Trump warned he could destroy Iran’s entire civilian energy infrastructure and power grid in a single day.
• Trump declared that either all ships will be granted safe passage or none will, preventing Iran from selectively selling oil.

United States President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran during a recent interview with Fox News, claiming he could completely dismantle the country's energy infrastructure in a single day while fiercely defending his administration's planned blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The “All or None” mandate for Hormuz

During the interview, Trump emphasized that Iran will not be permitted to selectively control maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. 

He declared a strict "all or none" policy, insisting that either every commercial vessel is granted safe passage through the waterway, or none will be allowed to pass at all.

Read more: Trump orders Hormuz blockade, says Iran refuses nuclear deal

"We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like," Trump followed, doubling down on his economic pressure campaign. "It’s going to be all or none, and that’s the way it is."

Expanding the Venezuela playbook

The US President compared the upcoming military and economic operation in the Middle East to the blockade previously imposed by the US on Venezuela. However, he noted that the action against Iran will be conducted on a significantly larger scale. 

Furthermore, Trump suggested that the blockade and the resulting disruption to global oil markets would ultimately benefit the US economy, driving more international tankers to the United States to purchase oil.

Threats to civilian energy infrastructure

Escalating his rhetoric amid the ongoing standoff, Trump explicitly threatened to target and destroy Iran's civilian energy sector and power grid if the situation deteriorates further.

Highlighting the impact such an attack would have on the nation, he claimed: "I could take out Iran in one day… I could have their entire energy, everything, every one of their plants, their electric generating plants, which is a big deal."

Read more: Iran says US “double standards” hinder nuclear talks

Preceding blockade announcement

Trump's television remarks directly follow a series of lengthy statements he posted earlier on social media. In those posts, the US President officially ordered the immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after 20-hour diplomatic negotiations in Islamabad reached an impasse over Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Declaring the US military fully "locked and loaded," He also issued a severe warning regarding the rules of engagement, stating that any Iranian forces who fire at US or peaceful vessels will be "blown to hell."

• Iran briefs Russia on US talks mediated by Pakistan
• Pezeshkian blames US “double standards” for deadlock
• Tehran signals readiness for “fair and balanced” deal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian briefed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, which are being mediated by Pakistan, according to statements from the Iranian presidency.

The call comes amid continued diplomatic efforts to revive dialogue between Tehran and Washington following recent high-level talks in Islamabad.

Read more: Trump orders Hormuz blockade, says Iran refuses nuclear deal

Criticism of US position

Pezeshkian said the main obstacle to reaching an agreement remains what he described as “double standards” and a “hegemonic approach” by the United States.

Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed skepticism over Washington’s commitments, citing past negotiations that failed to produce lasting outcomes.

Willingness for agreement

Despite the criticism, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to reach a “balanced and fair” agreement that would ensure long-term peace and security in the region.

Tehran emphasized that any future deal must respect its interests while contributing to regional stability, signaling that diplomatic channels remain open despite ongoing tensions.

• US orders naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz
• Trump says Iran rejected nuclear demands
• Washington warns of force against any threats

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that the US Navy will begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, citing Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions following lengthy negotiations in Islamabad.

Trump said US naval forces will stop and inspect all vessels attempting to enter or exit the strategic waterway. He also ordered the interdiction of ships that have paid what he described as “illegal tolls” to Iran.

Nuclear talks collapse

According to Trump, negotiations with Iran lasted nearly 20 hours and resulted in agreement on several issues, but failed on what he described as the “only point that matters,” the nuclear file.

“Iran is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions,” he said, reiterating that the United States will not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.

Rising tensions in Hormuz

Trump accused Iran of threatening global shipping by raising the possibility of naval mines in the strait. He said US forces will begin operations to locate and destroy any such mines.

He warned that any attack on US or commercial vessels would be met with overwhelming force, describing the situation as “world extortion.”

International involvement

Trump said multiple countries are expected to join the blockade effort, without naming them. He added that a “massive fleet” is being deployed to the region, confirming increased US naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also stated that two US destroyers had recently passed through the strait without incident.

Islamabad talks context

Trump said he had been briefed on the negotiations by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. He praised Pakistan’s leadership for facilitating the talks.

Despite the escalation, he expressed confidence that Iran would eventually return to negotiations and agree to US demands, stressing: “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned that any “wrong move” in the Strait of Hormuz would place its enemy forces in “deadly whirlpools,” according to statements carried by Iranian media.

They added that all transit movements through the strategic waterway are under the full control of Iran’s armed forces, underscoring rising tensions in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes for global energy supplies.

'Israeli' media outlet Ynet reported, citing ‘Israeli’ military sources, that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has ordered the army to prepare for the possibility of resuming war with Iran.

The report said the directive comes amid heightened regional tensions following the collapse of recent US–Iran negotiations in Islamabad.

According to the sources, the ‘Israeli’ military is assessing multiple scenarios, including renewed large-scale operations if diplomatic efforts fully break down.

Reuters, citing a US official, reported that American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have left the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The departure comes after US–Iran talks concluded without a deal, despite high-level diplomatic efforts hosted in Pakistan.

The Islamabad negotiations were aimed at narrowing gaps between Washington and Tehran, but ended without any breakthrough.

Iran says 3,375 people were killed during the war with the United States and ‘Israel’, according to the head of the country’s Forensic Medicine Organization.

Abbas Masjedi Arani said authorities have identified the bodies of those killed, with the toll including 2,875 men and nearly 500 women.

‘Israeli’ media reported that a home was damaged in the Upper Galilee after shrapnel fell from an intercepted drone in the Metula area.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the United States failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation during negotiations held in Islamabad, which ended without an agreement.

In his first official remarks following the talks, Ghalibaf wrote on X that Iran entered the discussions with “good faith and will,” but stressed that distrust remained due to what he described as experiences from past conflicts.

“The opposing side ultimately failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations,” he said.

Ghalibaf also thanked Pakistan for hosting the talks and facilitating the diplomatic process, describing the country as a “friendly and brotherly” partner. He extended greetings to the Pakistani people.

The comments come after US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad concluded without a deal, with both sides trading blame over the lack of progress and signalling deep differences on core demands.

Reports in ‘Israeli’ media say ‘Israel’ is preparing for the possibility of resuming large-scale military operations against Iran following the collapse of US-Iran talks in Islamabad.

According to sources cited in ‘Israeli’ media, preparations include potential strikes targeting infrastructure and energy facilities inside Iran if hostilities escalate again.

The ‘Israeli’ newspaper Ynet reported that the United States continues to transfer weapons to ‘Israel’ by air, describing it as part of ongoing military coordination between the two sides.

No official confirmation has been provided regarding the scale or timing of the reported deliveries.

‘Israeli’ Education Minister Yoav Kisch was quoted as saying that anyone who believed negotiations signaled the end of the conflict was mistaken, adding: “We are still at the beginning of a war, and things can move in any direction.”

US Vice President JD Vance said after the Islamabad negotiations that no agreement was reached with Iran, stressing that Washington would not compromise on its “red lines” and that the next move was now up to Tehran.

The ‘Israeli’ military says it has dismantled what it described as an explosives manufacturing laboratory in the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement posted on social media, the military said its forces discovered and destroyed large quantities of materials allegedly intended for weapon production, including around 200 pipe bombs, fire extinguishers adapted for explosive use, gas cylinders, and more than 50 kilograms of improvised explosive material.

Australia has expressed disappointment after US–Iran talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement, according to comments reported by Australian broadcaster ABC.

The Australian foreign minister said the outcome was “disappointing,” stressing the importance of maintaining the ceasefire and returning to negotiations as soon as possible.

She urged all parties to prioritise de-escalation, warning that continued failure to reach a settlement could worsen instability.

The minister also said Australia still hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict, noting that prolonged tensions would carry significant human and global economic costs.

Iran’s delegation has left Pakistan after high-level talks with the United States ended without an agreement, according to Iranian state media.

The delegation, which included Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, departed Islamabad following intensive negotiations mediated by Pakistan.

‘Israel’ said it destroyed a “loaded and ready-to-launch” rocket launcher overnight in the southern Lebanese town of Jwaya, claiming the strike prevented an imminent attack.

In a statement, the ‘Israeli’ military said the launcher was “attacked and destroyed” before it could be fired toward ‘Israel’. 

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says Pakistan helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations between the US and Iran.

"We hope that the two sides continue with a positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity," he says.

Iran's foreign ministry said no one had held any expectation that talks with the United States could have reached an agreement within one session after the negotiations in Islamabad stalled on Sunday.

"Naturally, from the beginning we should not have expected to reach an agreement in a single session. No one had such an expectation," ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

He said Tehran was "confident that contacts between us and Pakistan, as well as our other friends in the region, will continue".

US President Donald Trump hinted Sunday that he would impose a naval blockade on Iran, shortly after Vice President JD Vance announced that the talks in Islamabad ended without reaching an agreement.

Trump did not make a statement on the matter yet, but merely posted a link to an article titled: “The Trump card the president holds if Iran won’t bend: a naval blockade” on Truth Social.

The article says that Trump could “simply out-blockade Iran’s hold over the Strait of Hormuz,” according to experts.

“It would be very easy for the US Navy to exert complete control over what does and does not go up and down the Strait now,” the Lexington Institute’s national security expert Rebecca Grant told “Just the News” website.

Pakistan's foreign minister insisted on Sunday Washington and Tehran must uphold a ceasefire agreement, after marathon talks between the two sides to end the war in the Middle East ended without an agreement.

US President Donald Trump is currently attending a mixed martial arts event for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami, as Vice President JD Vance said the crucial truce talks with Iran in Islamabad ended without an agreement, signalling a potential return to war in the Middle East.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said negotiations with the United States ended without reaching an agreement, citing unresolved differences over three key issues.

In a series of statements, the ministry said both sides reviewed Iran’s ten-point proposal alongside US positions, and reached an understanding on some points.

However, disagreements persisted on three major issues, preventing a final deal.

The statement did not clarify what the three points were.

Officials described the talks as taking place in an atmosphere of mistrust and skepticism, reflecting longstanding tensions between the two sides.

Despite the breakdown, the ministry stressed that diplomacy remains a viable path, calling it a “permanent means” to safeguard national interests.

Iran’s foreign ministry added it had not expected a comprehensive agreement to be reached in a single round, noting that complex issues were discussed under difficult conditions, including new files such as the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional matters.

Pakistan's foreign minister insisted on Sunday Washington and Tehran must uphold a ceasefire agreement, after marathon talks between the two sides to end the war in the Middle East ended without an agreement.

"It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire," said Ishaq Dar, whose government hosted the talks and acted as a mediator.

"Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come," he said in a brief statement broadcast by state media.

Axios, citing a source briefed on the talks, said that some of the disagreements between Iran and the United States had to do with Iran’s refusal to give up on its enriched uranium stockpile.

Iran also demanded control of the Strait of Hormuz during the talks, according to Axios.

US Vice President JD Vance says that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement, adding he was leaving after putting forward a "final and best offer".

US Vice President JD Vance departed Pakistan on Sunday soon after saying that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement.

Vance boarded Air Force Two at 7:08 am (0208 GMT) and waved to Pakistani officials from the top of the stairs.

US Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement, saying he was leaving after putting forward a "final and best offer".

"Unreasonable demands" by the United States scuppered talks in Islamabad to end the war in the Middle East, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Sunday.

"The Iranian delegation negotiated continuously and intensively for 21 hours in order to protect the national interests of the Iranian people; despite various initiatives from the Iranian delegation, the unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations. Thus the negotiations ended," IRIB said on Telegram.

US Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement, saying he was leaving after putting forward a "final and best offer".

Vance signalled that he was still giving time to Iran to consider the offer from the United States, which on Tuesday said it would pause attacks with ‘Israel’ for two weeks pending negotiations.

"We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We'll see if the Iranians accept it," Vance told reporters after 21 hours of talks in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Iranian media said Sunday the truce talks with the United States in Islamabad have ended without reaching an agreement.

“Failure to reach an agreement is attributed to excessive US demands,” Tasnim News Agency said, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement, saying he was leaving after putting forward a "final and best offer".

"We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We'll see if the Iranians accept it," Vance told reporters after 21 hours of talks in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Vance says not heard Iranian “affirmative commitment” against nuclear weapons

US Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement, saying he was leaving after putting forward a "final and best offer".

"We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We'll see if the Iranians accept it," Vance told reporters after 21 hours of talks in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

The success of peace talks between the United States and Iran depends on Washington avoiding "excessive demands" and "unlawful requests," the Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman said early Sunday after marathon talks in Islamabad.

"The success of this diplomatic process depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side, refraining from excessive demands and unlawful requests, and the acceptance of Iran's legitimate rights and interests," Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X.

He added that the two sides had discussed a range of issues including the strategic "Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and the complete end of the war against Iran."

دیپلماسی برای ما ادامه جهاد مقدس مدافعان ایران زمین است. تجربه بدعهدی‌ها و بدسگالی‌های آمریکا را فراموش نکرده و نمی‌کنیم. همانطور که جنایات شنیع ارتکابی آنها و رژیم صهیونیستی در جریان جنگ‌های تحمیلی دوم و سوم را نخواهیم بخشید.

امروز روز پر کار و طولانی برای هیات نمایندگی جمهوری…

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 12, 2026

One hundred ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the past month, according to the Wall Street Journal citing data by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

The report, citing unnamed sources, says the vessels pass by negotiating toll payments with Iran that goes up to $2 million for a single ship.

Iranian ships are exempt.

US President Donald Trump says he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting that the United States had come out ahead from the war.

"Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we've won," Trump tells reporters.

Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has once again thrust himself into the global spotlight with two provocative posts on X within hours of each other, declaring readiness to send tens of thousands of Ugandan troops to defend ‘Israel’ and claiming a massive force of “war-hungry young men” could overrun Tehran “for free.”

In the first post, Gen. Kainerugaba wrote: “I’m ready to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers in Israel. Under my command. To protect the Holy Land. The land of Jesus Christ our God!”

I'm ready to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers in Israel. Under my command. To protect the Holy Land. The land of Jesus Christ our God!

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) April 10, 2026

Later the same evening, he followed up with an even more incendiary claim: “I have about 500,000 war hungry young men. All they want is money. They’ll eat that Tehran for free.”

I have about 500,000 war hungry young men. All they want is money. They'll eat that Tehran for free.

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) April 10, 2026

Earlier in March 2026, Gen. Kainerugaba had already signaled strong support for ‘Israel’, posting that “any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!”

Gen. Kainerugaba, 51, is the son of longtime Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and is widely seen as a potential successor.

As head of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), he has cultivated a reputation for blunt, headline-grabbing social media commentary on international affairs — from offers to intervene in Haiti to demands for massive US payments.

Pope Leo lashes out against warmongers while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and "believe once again in love, moderation and good politics", during prayer vigil for peace.

In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope says faith is needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".

The United States and Iran were set to resume top-level peace talks in Pakistan later Sunday, Iranian media reported, following marathon negotiations that lasted nearly 15 hours.

"End of 15-hour marathon talks on first day of Iran-US talks in Islamabad," Tasnim news agency reported, with another media outlet Mehr saying the next round of negotiations will be held after sunrise.

Iranian media reported Sunday that the United States and Iran have not reached an understanding yet on the differences between them, in the ongoing truce talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Fars News Agency, citing an “informed source”, said that the two sides are in the process of writing another text, but “the excessive demands of the American side are a serious obstacle to achieving a result so far”.

Another round of negotiations will continue on Sunday at the request of the Pakistani government, the report added.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was not bothered about the outcome of US-Iran talks in Pakistan, insisting the United States had come out ahead from the war.

"Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. The reason is because we've won," Trump told reporters.

"We're in very deep negotiations with Iran. We win regardless. We've defeated them militarily," Trump said.

Footage of ‘Israeli’ forces dropping white phosphorus on the southern Lebanon town of At-Tiri.

For coverage of the previous day, visit the link below.

Read more: Day 43 | US-Iran truce on edge as talks to begin in Pakistan on Saturday

This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 44 of the war as US-Iran talks in Islamabad end with no agreement.

Read more: Day 44 | US-Iran talks in Islamabad end with no agreement