# Negotiations
Respected in both the US and Russia: Bloomberg reveals Kirill Budanov’s negotiating style
Kirill Budanov, Head of the President’s Office, is held in high regard by both sides in the negotiation process. Allies consider him effective, whilst officials close to the Kremlin respect him as a combat officer.
The US and Iran are continuing talks following a fruitless meeting in Islamabad
Washington and Tehran are maintaining contact and attempting to reach an agreement despite the lack of a breakthrough during the talks in Pakistan. The parties are leaving the door open for further dialogue.
Trump is considering limited strikes against Iran following the collapse of negotiations
The White House is discussing new options regarding Iran following the breakdown of talks in Pakistan. Among the possible measures, alongside a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the resumption of limited strikes is also being considered.
Why did the peace talks between Iran and the US fail?
The Pakistani capital hosted the highest-level talks between the US and Iran in a decade, but the parties were unable to reach a peace agreement. Despite this, the participants note that some progress has been made and do not rule out continuing the dialogue.
The US has announced a blockade of Iranian ports following the collapse of talks with Tehran
The US Central Command has announced that, from 13 April, it will begin blocking all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. The decision was announced following fruitless talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad.
Following the collapse of talks in Islamabad, Israel is preparing for a new phase of the war with Iran, whilst the US has announced a naval blockade
Following fruitless talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad, Israeli media reported that the army was preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities. Against this backdrop, the United States announced the start of a naval blockade of Iran, whilst Tehran responded that the Strait of Hormuz was under the full control of Iranian forces.
The US is not counting on negotiations with Iran, as evidenced by plans to ease sanctions on Russian oil
The US expects the sanctions exemptions on Russian oil to be extended. Such a move could pave the way for a similar decision regarding Iranian oil.
Trump is seeking to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift conclusion, a move that is causing concern in Europe
Following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has once again turned his attention to the war in Ukraine. Against this backdrop, concerns are growing in Europe regarding the US’s role in any potential peace agreements.
Iran has denied taking part in the talks in Islamabad
Tehran has stated that it has not sent a delegation to Pakistan for talks with the US. Meanwhile, Islamabad is preparing for the meetings, which is heightening the uncertainty surrounding any potential dialogue.
Vance has travelled to Pakistan for talks with Iran against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire
US Vice-President J.D. Vance will lead the negotiations with Iran in Pakistan. The ceasefire between the parties remains fragile, and differences over its terms persist.
Trump has accused Iran of breaching the terms of the ceasefire regarding the Strait of Hormuz
The US President has stated that Iran is failing to comply with the agreements on ensuring the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had previously accused the US of breaching the terms of the agreement.
Trump has called on Netanyahu to scale back strikes on Lebanon amid the ceasefire
The US President has called on the Israeli Prime Minister to scale back military operations in Lebanon. There are concerns in Washington that an escalation could affect negotiations with Iran.
