STORY: ::A security analyst says the U.S. and Iran appear open to more talks despite failing to strike a war-ending deal
::Islamabad, Pakistan / April 12, 2026
::Zahid Hussain, Security analyst
"One could not have expected that after the 47 years of bitter rivalry, it will end in 24 hours. And I think it's significant, but one hoped that at least they could agree on certain minimum points, it did not happen. But I think they have not closed doors for future negotiation. That's a good thing."
"I don't think that fighting will start soon, but certainly it will not de-escalate the situation. The tension will continue there. And I think the indication is that the United States will continue to put pressure on Iran. And so, one incident could lead to yet another round of active war."
The talks in Islamabad, after a ceasefire earlier in the week, were the first direct U.S.-Iranian meeting in more than a decade and the highest-level discussions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Each side blamed the other for the failure of the 21-hour negotiations to end fighting that has killed thousands and sent global oil prices soaring since it began over six weeks ago.
Hussain, who has written various books on regional security and geopolitical, said Pakistan, alongside other countries, could still play a mediating role as diplomats pursue back-channel efforts to revive negotiations, with around ten days remaining before the ceasefire deadline.
