THE NEW YORK TIMES: The lack of a breakthrough after 21 hours of negotiations leaves the Trump administration facing several unpalatable options.
Vice President JD Vance’s failure to win the concessions the United States sought from Iran in a single, marathon negotiating session over its nuclear program was no surprise.
But what now?
The failure leaves the Trump administration facing several unpalatable options: A lengthy negotiation with Tehran over the future of its nuclear program, or a resumption of a war that has already created the largest energy disruption in modern times, and the prospect of a long struggle over who controls the Strait of Hormuz.
White House officials said they would defer to President Trump, who traveled to Florida for the weekend to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship match, to announce the administration’s next move. But each of those paths carries significant strategic and political downsides.
Mr. Vance said little about what took place during more than 21 hours of negotiations, suggesting he had handed the Iranians a take-it-or-leave-it proposal to forever terminate their nuclear program, and they left it. » | Tyler Pager and David E. Sanger | Tyler Pager traveled with Vice President Vance to Islamabad for the negotiations with Iran. David E. Sanger has covered the efforts to use sabotage, negotiation and military force to end the Iranian nuclear program over the past two decades. | Sunday, April 12, 2026
