TIMELINE: US-Iran peace negotiations since fighting erupted in February 2026

Since 2025, the United States and Iran have been holding a series of negotiations amid concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program and other regional security matters. Despite several rounds of talks, the diplomatic process has repeatedly stalled.

The two countries, as reported by Al Jazeera, failed to bridge long-standing disagreements on uranium enrichment limits, sanctions relief, and security arrangements in the Middle East.

This culminated on February 28 this year when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the Middle East into a new conflict that President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the United States and offer Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.

The following details developments since last year's talks between the US and Iran:

Early 2025: Initial negotiations

On April 12, 2025, Reuters reported that US and Iranian representatives held initial indirect talks in Muscat, mediated by Oman, marking the first structured engagement in years. 

As reported again by Al Jazeera, a follow-up round was later held in Rome, Italy, where both sides discussed a potential framework for reviving a nuclear agreement.

By mid-2025, additional technical-level meetings focused on uranium enrichment limits and possible sanctions relief, but no final agreement was reached. 

June 2025: Attacks stop talks 

Talks in June 2025 ended following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

2026: Renewed negotiations

Negotiations resumed in early 2026 with the "most serious" round held in Geneva, Switzerland in February.

But on February 28, the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran. US President Donald Trump would later say that Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the operation.

On the other hand, Iran retaliated by hitting several Arab Gulf cities.

By late March 2026, another round of negotiations took place, with discussions centered on nuclear restrictions, sanctions relief mechanisms, and regional security guarantees.

April 2026: High-level talks 

On April 8, a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was reached. 

However, Iran threatened to resume hostilities as Israel launched a major bombardment of Lebanon. Israel and the US pointed out that the battle against Hezbollah was not part of the truce.

On April 11, senior US and Iranian leaders met in Pakistan for negotiations to end their six-week-old war, although Tehran threw the talks into doubt by saying they could not begin without commitments on Lebanon and sanctions.

Senior officials from the two countries left Islamabad without agreement on April 12. Negotiations between the US and Iran appeared to have concluded, Iran's government said.

After the failed negotiation, the US said it would immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, even as world leaders urged Washington and Tehran to continue the peace talks.

On April 16, the possibility of negotiations surfaced again as a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the US government talked up hopes for a deal that would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said the fighting with Iran could end soon as he told the world to watch out for an "amazing two days." — with reports from Al Jazeera and Reuters/RSJ, GMA News