Iran Offered 5-Year Uranium Freeze, US Demanded 20 Years as Pakistan Talks Stalled

Akahi News learnt that Iranian officials proposed suspending uranium enrichment for up to five years during weekend talks with the United States in Pakistan, but the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance rejected the offer and insisted on a 20-year suspension. The dramatic gap between the two positions reveals just how far apart the former adversaries remain despite weeks of devastating war.

According to a report from the New York Times, citing American and Iranian officials familiar with the negotiations, Washington is not seeking a permanent ban on Iran’s nuclear programme. But five years versus twenty years is not a small gap. It is a chasm.

The talks, held in Islamabad over the weekend, represented the highest-level face-to-face engagement between the two countries since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Yet after more than 21 hours of marathon negotiations, the parties walked away without an agreement. The ceasefire that paused the fighting expires on April 21. The clock is ticking.

Two Non-Negotiable Demands, Says Vance

Akahi News gathered that Vice President Vance, in an interview with Fox News on Monday, clarified that the United States has drawn two red lines that cannot be crossed. First, Iran must give up its nuclear ambitions entirely. Second, the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened to international shipping.

“We must have their conclusive commitment not to develop a nuclear weapon,” Vance told Fox News’ Bret Baier. “It’s one thing for the Iranians to say that they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s another thing for us to put in place the mechanism to ensure that’s not going to happen.”

The vice president also confirmed that Washington demands control over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. “So we would like to get that material out of the country completely, so that the United States has control of it,” he stressed.

It was alleged that the US delegation presented what Vance described as a “final and best offer” after nearly a day of continuous communication. The proposal had yet to secure acceptance from Tehran. “They have chosen not to accept our terms,” Vance told reporters in Islamabad before departing.

When asked whether additional talks would take place before the ceasefire expires, Vance put the ball firmly in Iran’s court. “The big question from here on out is whether Iranians will have enough flexibility,” he said. “The question would be best put to the Iranians.”

The Sticking Points: Uranium, Hormuz, and Reparations

Beyond the nuclear timeline, multiple issues divided the two sides. According to Iranian officials familiar with the talks, three main sticking points remained unresolved: the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the fate of nearly 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, and Iran’s demand that approximately $27 billion in frozen revenues held abroad be released.

Iran also sought war reparations for damage from six weeks of airstrikes. The Americans refused those requests outright.

On the Strait of Hormuz, the United States demanded that Iran immediately reopen the strategic waterway to all maritime traffic. But Iran refused to relinquish leverage over the critical choke point for oil tankers, insisting it would do so only after a final peace deal, according to the two Iranian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

President Trump, speaking from Florida where he attended a UFC event, claimed it did not matter to him whether the delegation reached an agreement. “We win, regardless,” he said. “We’ve defeated them militarily.”

That posture—military victory already achieved, diplomacy now optional—may explain why the US delegation felt comfortable walking away without a deal. But the ceasefire clock is running. And the Strait of Hormuz remains partially blocked, sending shockwaves through global energy markets.

Akahi News had earlier reported on the devastating human cost of the war—over 1,700 Iranian civilians killed, according to activist groups, and 13 American service members dead. The question Nigerians must ask is not just about nuclear centrifuges in Iran. It is about what happens when global powers cannot agree. Oil prices spike. Fuel becomes more expensive. And the common man, whether in Lagos or Tehran, pays the price.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on social media that discussions covered the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, lifting of sanctions, and the complete end to the war against Iran and in the region. He added that the success of this diplomatic process depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side, refraining from excessive demands and the acceptance of Iran’s legitimate rights and interests.

It is not a child’s play to negotiate with a country that, just six weeks ago, saw its Supreme Leader killed by American and Israeli airstrikes. The fact that Iranian officials sat across from Vance at all is extraordinary. That they held cordial discussions for 21 hours suggests both sides want an off-ramp. But wanting a deal and agreeing to its terms are two different things.

One Iranian official, speaking to the New York Times, noted that “when two serious teams with an intention for a deal come to the table, it has to be a win-win for both. It is unrealistic to think we can come out of this without making any serious concessions; the same holds true for the Americans.”

The ceasefire holds—for now. But April 21 is approaching. If no agreement is reached by then, the world could witness a resumption of hostilities. And this time, with the strait already choked, the economic consequences could be even more severe.

For Nigeria, an oil-dependent nation already struggling with foreign exchange and fuel prices, a prolonged conflict in the Persian Gulf is not a distant headline. It is a direct hit on the pocketbook. Every dollar increase in crude prices affects the naira. Every disruption in the strait affects fuel availability. Nigerians watching from afar should hope that Washington and Tehran find common ground—not for the sake of diplomacy, but for the sake of their own wallets.

Key Summary Box

What happened: Iranian officials proposed suspending uranium enrichment for up to five years during weekend talks in Pakistan, but the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance rejected the offer and demanded a 20-year suspension.
Other sticking points: Control of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, release of $27 billion in frozen Iranian revenues, and war reparations.
US position: Vance outlined two non-negotiable demands—Iran must give up nuclear ambitions and the strait must be fully reopened. He said the ball is now in Iran’s court.
Iran’s position: Iranian officials insisted any agreement must recognise the country’s legitimate rights and interests. They accused the US of making “excessive demands.”
What’s next: The current ceasefire expires on April 21. No agreement has been reached, though both sides have left the door open for further talks.
Why it matters to Nigerians: A continued standoff in the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil supplies, which directly impacts fuel prices and the naira exchange rate in Nigeria.
Bottom line: Iran offered five years. The US demanded twenty. The gap remains wide. The clock is ticking toward April 21.