Newshour Tehran says US failed to gain Iran's trust during talks
Apr 12, 2026
Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC correspondent reporting from Budapest on the Hungarian election; Lise Doucette, BBC chief international correspondent in Islamabad on US–Iran talks. They discuss why the Islamabad negotiations collapsed and the deep trust gap. They explore differing negotiation formats, possible next steps for the fragile ceasefire, and wider regional maritime and strategic risks.
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Trust Broke The Islamabad Talks
- Trust was the central obstacle in US–Iran Islamabad talks, with Iran saying past wars made negotiations feel like a Trojan horse.
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the US "understood our logic and principles" but "was unable...to earn the trust" of Iran's delegation.
US Insisted On Clear Nuclear Red Lines
- The US framed its position as non-negotiable on Iran committing not to seek a nuclear weapon or the means to build one quickly.
- Vice President J.D. Vance called Washington's offer their "best and final offer" after 21 hours of talks.
This Round Had Real Technical Expertise
- This negotiation round was far more professional and technical than prior rounds, with 70-member US and significant Iranian delegations including experts.
- Lise Doucette noted marathon 21-hour sessions and technical teams breaking out for detailed work.