Tehran: An Iranian official on Sunday tempered expectations following the conclusion of high-level talks in Pakistan, asserting that a comprehensive resolution to the conflict was never likely to be achieved in a single session.

The comments from Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, followed an earlier assessment by U.S. Vice President JD Vance regarding the diplomatic stalemate. Baghaei told Iranian media that while the two nations had "reached an understanding on a number of issues," significant "differences of opinion" remain on two or three critical topics.

Negotiating Under Shadow of War

Baghaei emphasised that the discussions took place against a backdrop of intense military hostility, which heavily influenced the diplomatic environment.

“These negotiations were held after 40 days of imposed war, and were held in an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion,” Baghaei said. “It is natural that we should not have expected from the beginning to reach an agreement within one meeting. No one expected that either.”

The spokesperson previously indicated that the potential for a successful outcome was tethered to the "seriousness and good faith of the opposing side," as well as the requirement that Iran’s "legitimate rights and interests" be acknowledged.

Pakistan Urges Continued Restraint

Serving as the host and mediator for the summit, Pakistan called on both Washington and Tehran to maintain the current cessation of hostilities despite the lack of a formal agreement.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar issued a statement characterising it as imperative that the "parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire." He expressed optimism that the momentum gained during the 21-hour session would not be lost.

“We hope that the two sides will continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond,” Dar said.

The Mediator’s Role

Dar noted that Pakistan remains committed to its role as a diplomatic bridge, stating that Islamabad would continue to "play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue" between the two adversaries in the near future.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed "gratitude" to both the U.S. and Iranian delegations for their recognition of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, which were instrumental in securing the initial two-week truce. He reiterated his hope that both parties would move forward with a "positive spirit to achieve durable peace."

While the talks in Islamabad have concluded without a signed treaty, the joint emphasis on maintaining the ceasefire suggests a fragile window for further diplomacy remains open.