A widely circulated video, whose source is unclear, shows a striking moment in the negotiations: the Iranian delegation enters the room, speaks briefly with the Pakistani mediator, and then leaves almost immediately while U.S. Vice President JD Vance is present.
The footage shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking with the Pakistani official and apologizing that he cannot stay for a joint photo. Seconds later, he exits with the rest of the Iranian team.
The video then cuts to Vance, who appears visibly shocked by the scene, looking embarrassed and trying to work out a solution with the intermediary. Commentators suggested that the Iranian move may have been what prompted President Donald Trump to return to threatening Iran.
A separate report said that, after Trump’s threats, Iran informed the mediating countries that it was freezing the talks. According to sources familiar with the details, Iran had known a joint photo was expected and decided at the last moment to cancel it in order to humiliate the United States.
That evening, the speaker of Iran’s parliament responded to Trump’s threats, saying, “Do they not think that if their threats had any effect, they would not have reached the point of despair they are in today? We do not trust the American threats. They should be more careful with their remarks. Our armed forces are ready to respond differently. Whatever they say, we are the ones who acted.”
