Islamabad, Apr 12: High-stakes ceasefire and nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran ended without a breakthrough, with US Vice President JD Vance saying that he is returning home “without an agreement” after nearly 21 hours of talks in Pakistan.

Addressing the media after the marathon negotiations, Vance said the US had presented what he described as its “final and best offer” to Tehran, but the Iranian side declined to accept the terms.

“We leave here with a very simple proposal… our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” he said, adding that the negotiating team remained in constant contact with US President Donald Trump throughout the discussions.

Vance acknowledged that while the talks were substantive and conducted in good faith, they ultimately failed to produce any tangible outcome.

“We’ve been at it now for 21 hours… The good news is we’ve had a number of substantive discussions. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” he said.

He maintained that the US delegation had shown flexibility during negotiations but could not bridge differences with Iran.

“We were quite flexible; we were quite accommodating. But we just could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms,” he added.

The US vice president said that Washington’s core demand remains an “affirmative commitment” from Iran that it will not pursue nuclear weapons.

“The simple fact is that we need to see a fundamental commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon—not just now, but for the long term,” Vance said, without disclosing specific details of the rejected terms.

He noted that while Iran’s existing enrichment infrastructure had been significantly degraded, concerns persist over its long-term intentions.

“We haven’t seen that commitment yet. We hope that we will,” he added.

Vance thanked Pakistan’s leadership for facilitating the talks, describing them as “incredible hosts” who made sincere efforts to bridge differences between the two sides.

“Whatever shortcomings of the negotiation, it wasn’t because of the Pakistanis, who did an amazing job,” he said.

The talks, held under heavy security in Islamabad, were part of a Pakistan-brokered initiative aimed at stabilising tensions following a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran amid the broader West Asia conflict.

New Delhi, Apr 11: This year’s Hajj pilgrimage is getting impacted by the fragile and unpredictable security scenario in West Asia with many nations having issued advisory to their nationals to reconsider travel for the Hajj, which falls in May.

The US State Department has advised US citizens to reconsider travel for Hajj 2026, citing “intermittent travel disruptions” and the overall security situation following the recent war.

“Americans should reconsider participation in the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca,” the advisory said, noting that the ceasefire remains highly unstable and that continuing instability could affect the safe conduct of the pilgrimage.

There are also doubts over whether Iranian pilgrims will be able to participate in the Hajj due to the widespread devastation and disruption caused by the 40-day conflict. Pilgrims from Iraq, Lebanon, and several other countries are also reconsidering the Hajj travel plans amid the uncertain regional situation.

Iran sends around 90,000 pilgrims each year forthe Hajj.

Prior to the conflict, Tehran had urged Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota, citing its population of more than 90 million.

But the conflict disrupted its Hajj plan.

However, Saudi Arabia has officially assured that the pilgrimage will proceed as planned. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has affirmed its readiness to host Hajj pilgrims for the 2026 (1447 Hijri) season, with preparations on track despite ongoing regional tensions in West Asia and safety concerns.

Saudi Arabia has reiterated its commitment to provide a safe and spiritual experience for millions of Muslims, emphasising that it will take all necessary measures to ensure the success of the pilgrimage, despite logistical and geopolitical challenges.

A total of 4717 pilgrims from J&K are scheduled for the 2026 Hajj.

The Iran war drives up pilgrimage costs for South-east Asian Muslims.

Travel markets are concerned that soaring fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty could make the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia significantly more expensive for millions of South-east Asian Muslims.

But Indian pilgrims will not be affected as the Central Haj Committee is expected to absorb the higher cost of the travel.Special Hajj flights are going to be operated from April 18.

Meanwhile, Consul General of India Fahad Ahmed Suri has announced extensive preparations for Hajj 2026, with nearly 175,000 Indian pilgrims expected to travel to Saudi Arabia this year.

He said that several steps have been taken to provide better facilities to the pilgrims.

All pilgrims in Madinah will stay in hotels near the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s Masjid in the Markazia area, while hotel style accommodation has been arranged at Makkah.

Around 122,518 pilgrims will travel through the Hajj Committee of India, including nearly 5400 women pilgrims travelling without Mahram, while another 52,507 pilgrims are expected through private tour operators.

The Haramain high-speed train service between Makkah and Madinah will now serve 61,000 pilgrims, up from 16,000 last year.

Mina and Arafat camps will feature improved cooling systems, sofa beds, green carpets, shaded walkways, luggage racks, and refrigerators.

Smartwatches linked to the Haj Suvidha App will help locate missing pilgrims and improve emergency response.

More than 200 administrative staff and 350 medical and paramedical personnel will be deployed to support Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

For the first time, a shorter Hajj package of 20-25 days has also been introduced, with more than 10,500 pilgrims opting for it.

Five airlines Air India Express, Akasa Air, Saudi Airlines, Flynas, and Flyadeal will operate Hajj flights between India and Saudi Arabia.

Islamabad, Apr 11: Pakistan-brokered talks between the United States and Iran marked a “historic day” on Saturday as the two sides held their highest-level engagement since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with early indications pointing to a “positive atmosphere,” according to reports.

Reporting from Islamabad for Al Jazeera, Osama Bin Javaid said the talks lasted just under two hours and signalled a rare moment of direct engagement between the long-time adversaries.

“It is a historic day,” Javaid reported, noting that this was the first such high-level contact in decades. Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that the negotiations were conducted in a constructive environment, although most details remain behind closed doors.

Shift to direct talks

In a significant development, what were initially planned as indirect negotiations—with Pakistani mediators shuttling between separate rooms—reportedly evolved into direct engagement between the US and Iranian delegations. Pakistani officials remained present during the discussions, facilitating dialogue.

The talks come days after a fragile ceasefire was announced between the two sides, amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

Key issues discussed

According to sources cited in the Al Jazeera report, several contentious issues were taken up during the meeting, including developments in Lebanon and broader regional security concerns.
There were tentative indications of progress on some fronts. Sources suggested that Israeli military operations in Lebanon could be scaled down to the southern region, with no further strikes in Beirut, though this remains unverified.

Another key issue under discussion was the possible unfreezing of Iranian financial assets—one of Tehran’s longstanding demands. Iranian sources hinted at some movement on this front, but there has been no official confirmation.

Limited information, cautious optimism

Javaid cautioned that information emerging from the talks has been limited and difficult to independently verify, with only “drip-drip” updates coming from sources.

“What we know is that it’s all happening behind closed doors,” he reported, adding that both sides are expected to continue discussions over dinner, suggesting that negotiations are ongoing.

Background: High-stakes diplomacy

Earlier reports said senior officials from both sides, including top political and security figures, arrived in Islamabad under heavy security for the negotiations, which are being mediated by Pakistan.

The talks are being closely watched globally, as they come amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly following recent strikes in Lebanon that have threatened to derail the ceasefire.
While Tehran has accused Israel of violating the truce, the US maintains that Lebanon was not covered under the initial understanding—highlighting the complexities surrounding the negotiations.

Global implications

The outcome of the Islamabad talks could have far-reaching consequences, not only for regional stability in West Asia but also for global energy markets and international diplomacy.

For now, officials and observers remain cautiously optimistic, with the “positive atmosphere” reported in the initial round offering a glimmer of hope after years of hostility.

Further clarity is expected as the talks continue and more verified information emerges.