Fate of Ceasefire in Limbo After Talks Yield No Deal

Saturday's marathon talks between the US and Iran didn't clinch a deal, but they may not be the last word. Vice President JD Vance flew back to the US from Pakistan early Sunday after more than 20 hours of negotiations without a deal in place, reports the Wall Street Journal. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to make any headway," he said, adding that he wanted Iran to give "an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon." The fate of the fragile ceasefire is now in limbo, but the New York Times notes that neither Vance nor top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf ruled out a second round of talks.

Ghalibaf on Sunday said Washington had "been unable to gain the trust" of his delegation, though he also made reference to "this round of talks," suggesting a follow-up round was possible, notes the BBC. However, nothing has been scheduled. The BBC's Lyse Doucet writes that it's not a huge surprise they failed to reach a deal in a single day of talks given the complexity of the sticking points: Iran's nuclear program, including its stock of highly enriched uranium; control of the Strait of Hormuz; and Iran's push to unlock roughly $27 billion in frozen funds. President Trump "now has confronts a stark choice—escalate or negotiate," she writes.