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Islamabad Talks: What does the abrupt end mean for future negotiations?

By WTOP Staff
[audio wav="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/jj-turn-1.wav" hide_author="true" hide_date="true" title="WTOP National Security Correspondent J.J. Green breaks down the Islamabad Talks."][/audio]

Talks in Pakistan between American and Iranian representatives ended without an agreement after 21 hours of negotiations, leaving a two-week ceasefire in doubt.

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation in Islamabad, said talks came to a close after Iranian counterparts refused to agree to terms that stipulated Iran would cease its nuclear development efforts.

After the talks, Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, issued a statement saying the talks were not a one-off event, but the beginning of a “process.”

Not long after news broke of the stalemate, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy would stop any vessel that attempts to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz.

WTOP National Security correspondent J.J. Green joined Sandy Kozel to discuss the latest development, and what it could mean for future negotiations.

The interview was lightly edited for clarity.

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but it's the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said. Beijing has been increasing pressure in recent years on the democratically governed island that it claims as its own territory. Two lawmakers reached by the AP on Thursday rejected the demand for an apology, while the other two could not be immediately reached. New Zealand's government said it would express concern about the travel bans to Beijing. The elected officials visited Taipei in May, as New Zealand parliamentarians have done “for decades,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
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