U.S. and Iran Fail to Reach Agreement After 21-Hour Talks

On April 12, 2020, U.S. and Iranian officials concluded 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad without reaching an agreement, as confirmed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

The talks followed a two-week ceasefire agreement initiated on April 8, aimed at ending the ongoing conflict that began on February 28, disrupting global energy supplies. The U.S. delegation included Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, while the Iranian side was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Despite the fragile nature of the ceasefire, which was threatened by heavy Israeli bombardments in Lebanon, the U.S. had warned of severe consequences if Iran did not return to negotiations. Key sticking points included Iran's nuclear program, with Vance declining to publicly disclose the core issues.

The conflict has already caused significant disruptions in global energy markets, with oil prices sharply dropping following the ceasefire announcement. Reports indicated that Dangote Refinery maintained its price structure in response to these developments.