Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the United States’ “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” derailed an agreement that was just inches away from becoming the “Islamabad MoU”.

The Iranian official’s remarks came after high-level talks between the two sides ended without a breakthrough after 21 hours of intensive negotiations in Islamabad.

“In intensive talks at the highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with the US in good faith to end the war,” the foreign minister wrote on social media.

“But when we were just inches away from an ‘Islamabad MoU’, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.”

“Zero lessons learned,” he added, suggesting Washington had failed to draw from decades of past confrontations with Tehran.

The talks, arranged after Pakistan’s hectic efforts, marked the first direct high-level engagement between Tehran and Washington since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28.

‘Good will begets good will’

The Iranian diplomat ended his post with a pointed warning:

“Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity.”

The statement indicated that Iran showed flexibility and constructive intent, but the United States had not responded in kind.

The negotiations centred on easing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and Iran’s nuclear programme, among other issues.

US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said afterwards that it was now up to Iran to accept what he described as Washington’s “final, best” offer.

Iranian officials rejected that characterisation, accusing the United States of making excessive demands and failing to show the flexibility needed to secure a deal.