Vance says 'ball is in Iran's court' amid blockade of Iranian ports; praises Pakistan's leadership at peace talks

WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2026) With the US blockade of Iranian ports now coming into effect after weekend talks in Islamabad failed to reach a peace deal, Vice-President JD Vance has said "the ball is in Iran's court" and urged Tehran to be flexible to Washington's demands.

Vance’s remarks came after his whirlwind trip to Pakistan for face-to-face Pakistan-mediated negotiations with Iranian officials – talks that reports suggested produced no breakthrough.

"The ball is very much in their court," Vance told FOX news' on Monday.

Meanwhile, officials are reportedly looking at a second round of negotiations to end the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, according to CNN.

President Donald Trump and his Administration are open to resuming in-person talks as soon as he believes Iran is prepared to meet his demands, CNN reported quoting unnamed 'sources'. That could mean a second meeting with Iranian officials before the two-week cease-fire expires on April 21 or potentially extending the cease-fire, officials said.

Vance, back in Washington from Islamabad, praised the way Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir facilitated the intensive talks in Islamabad, describing them as “incredible hosts” and “incredible statesmen.”

According to analysts, differences between the United States and Iran over uranium enrichment remain the central obstacle in ongoing negotiations.

They said the US position is not a permanent ban on enrichment but a proposed 20-year “suspension” of all nuclear activity. The arrangement, according to the sources cited by the New York Times and Axios, would allow Iran to maintain that it has not permanently given up its rights under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

In response, Iran has proposed suspending nuclear activity for up to five years, according to two senior Iranian officials and one US official cited in reporting on the discussions. The proposal mirrors an earlier Iranian offer made during talks in Geneva in February, which collapsed and were followed by President Donald Trump’s decision to escalate military action.

While the nuclear dispute remains the core issue in the negotiations, additional disagreements still remain, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and limits on Iran’s support for regional proxy groups.

But US officials maintain that Iran’s refusal to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure and transfer enriched material abroad remains the central obstacle.

According to the reports, Washington has proposed that Iran halt enrichment for roughly 20 years and remove enriched uranium from its territory, while Tehran has insisted on retaining its stockpile and rejecting any permanent dismantlement. One report said Iran has agreed in principle to dilute highly enriched uranium, but US officials consider this insufficient due to concerns it could be re-enriched quickly.

In his remark, Vance also said on Monday that Iran will determine the next steps in the conflict, following stalled negotiations in Pakistan, while rejecting claims that the talks ended in failure.

Vance said the discussions included “good conversations” and “a lot of progress,” noting that Iranian negotiators “moved in our direction,” but “they didn't move far enough.” He added that the talks helped clarify US priorities, particularly the demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

According to Vance, the negotiations ended without a deal because the Iranian delegation lacked the authority to finalize an agreement. “What we figured out is that they were unable… to cut a deal,” he said, adding that they would need to return to Tehran for approval “either from the supreme leader or somebody else.”

The comments coincided with President Trump's order for a naval blockade on Iran, targeting vessels tied to Iranian ports. Vance described Iran’s actions as “economic terrorism,” saying Tehran had “threatened any ship that's moving through the Straits of Hormuz.”

“We've stopped bombing the country. What we expect the Iranians to give up is a full reopening of the Straits of Hormuz,” Vance said. He added that the blockade is intended to increase economic pressure, stating, “If the Iranians are going to try to engage in economic terrorism, we're going to abide by a simple principle that no Iranian ships are getting out either.”