US and Iran end ceasefire talks without agreement and blaming each other

Face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan concluded without an agreement, jeopardizing a fragile two-week ceasefire. U.S. officials stated that Iran refused to commit to abandoning its nuclear program, while Iranian officials blamed the U.S. for the talks' collapse. Neither side offered clarity on what would happen after the ceasefire expires on April 22, despite Pakistani mediators urging its continuation. U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized the need for Iran to commit to not seeking nuclear weapons, while Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf suggested the U.S. needed to earn their trust. The war, which began on February 28, has resulted in thousands of casualties and significant damage to infrastructure in the Middle East. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has impacted global oil exports. Meanwhile, Israel has continued strikes in Lebanon, stating the ceasefire did not apply there, and negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin soon. The U.S. military conducted a destroyer transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran's military command denied.