In an interview with Fox News, he said both helped mediate between two countries that had not had negotiations for a long time.
PM Shehbaz (left), US Vice President JD Vance (centre), CDF Munir (right). PHOTO: EXPRESS
US Vice President JD Vance praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in facilitating the US-Iran talks.
In an interview with Fox Newshe described the two leaders as exceptional hosts and praised their statesmanship in their contribution to mediating discussions between the two countries.
He said: “I have to give a lot of credit to Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both were exceptional hosts and demonstrated real political savvy in helping to mediate the conversation between us and the Iranians, two countries who have not had serious negotiations in a very long time.”
Earlier Sunday, Vance said intensive 21-hour talks with Iran had failed to produce a deal. He also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts towards an agreement. The American and Iranian delegations left Islamabad to return home.
“The bad news is we haven’t reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it is bad news for the United States of America,” Vance, head of the American delegation, told reporters shortly before leaving Islamabad.
Learn more: Vance leaves Islamabad after 21 hours of no-deal negotiations, welcomes Pakistan’s mediation efforts
He appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz and CDF Munir, saying: “Both incredible hosts, and whatever shortcomings in the negotiations, it is not thanks to the Pakistanis who did an incredible job and really tried to help us and the Iranians bridge the gap and reach an agreement.
Vance said Iran chose not to accept U.S. conditions, including not building nuclear weapons.
“We need an affirmative commitment that they will not seek nuclear weapons and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the primary goal of the President of the United States, and that is what we have tried to achieve through these negotiations.”
Vance said he spoke with President Trump up to a dozen times during the talks. But even as negotiations continued, Trump said Saturday that a deal was not entirely necessary. “We are negotiating. Whether or not we reach an agreement doesn’t change anything for me, because we won,” he told reporters.
Separately, US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iranian “people” had contacted the United States, indicating that Tehran wanted a deal, as the US Navy began blockading the Strait of Hormuz to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Speaking outside the Oval Office, Trump did not say who called who, what the U.S. response was or what other issues were discussed during the contact. The president also did not provide details on the content of the conversation.
Read also: The American president demands new contact with Iran for an agreement
“I can tell you the other side called us,” Trump said, referring to Iran. “We were called this morning by the right people, the right people, and they want to come to an agreement.”
The United States and Iran held talks in Islamabad that ended Sunday morning without an agreement, raising questions about what will happen when the current two-week truce expires on April 22. As the negotiations concluded, both sides blamed each other for the failure.
Hours later, Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that immediately drew a stern warning from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which promised a “strong response” to any hostile action.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the US Navy would “begin the process of blockading all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz.”
The blockade came into effect on Monday at 2 p.m. GMT. Trump warned that if Iranian “fast attack” boats approached the blockade, they would be eliminated. He also said the United States would not allow Tehran to “extort the world,” referring to toll collection measures announced by Iran.
“Warning: If any of these ships come near our BLOCKAGE, they will be ELIMINATED immediately, using the same kill system we use against drug dealers on boats at sea. It’s fast and brutal,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
