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Pakistan’s almighty service main Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived successful Tehran connected Friday (May 22, 2026), with Islamabad mediating arsenic the Islamic Republic examines a caller U.S. connection to extremity the West Asia war.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, however, said the sojourn did not needfully mean “we person reached a turning constituent oregon a decisive situation”.
The disagreements betwixt Iran and the United States were “deep and extensive”, helium added successful quotes carried by Iran’s ISNA quality agency.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier voiced anticipation of advancement connected ending the war, which broke retired connected February 28 erstwhile the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran.
A ceasefire connected April 8 halted the conflict, but dialog efforts, including historical look to look talks hosted successful Islamabad person truthful acold failed to output a lasting agreement.
Previous comments by President Donald Trump had suggested weeks of stop-start negotiations to onslaught a imperishable extremity to the warfare were teetering connected the “borderline” betwixt a woody and renewed attacks.
Pakistan’s subject said successful a connection that Mr. Munir had “arrived successful Tehran arsenic portion of ongoing mediation efforts”.
It said helium had been welcomed by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Naqvi.
Mr. Naqvi visited Iran for the 2nd clip successful a week connected Wednesday (May 20, 2026) and met President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Mr. Baqaei said a delegation from Qatar had besides held talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister connected Friday (May 22, 2026).
“In caller days, galore countries — some determination and non-regional — person been trying to assistance bring the warfare to an end... However, Pakistan remains the authoritative mediator.”
Pakistan, Iran’s eastbound neighbour, hosted successful April the lone nonstop negotiations betwixt U.S. and Iranian officials to instrumentality spot since the warfare began.
Mr. Munir was astatine the centre of the enactment during that circular of talks, greeting some delegations connected their accomplishment and displaying bonhomie with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.
But the talks yet failed, with Iran accusing the U.S. of making “excessive demands”.
Since then, the 2 sides person exchanged aggregate proposals, with the menace of renewed warfare looming each along.
Hormuz
Iranian media had reported connected Thursday (May 21, 2026) that Mr. Munir had been owed successful Tehran that time successful bid to proceed “talks and consultations” with Iranian authorities.
Mr. Rubio aboriginal said to reporters of the Pakistani visit: “Hopefully that’ll beforehand this further.”
On Friday (May 22, 2026), helium said that Mr. Trump’s “disappointment” with America’s NATO allies implicit a deficiency of enactment successful the Iran warfare would request to beryllium “addressed”.
Mr. Rubio added that helium told European countries they whitethorn person to travel up with a “Plan B” to assistance unit unfastened the Strait of Hormuz if the warfare with Iran drags on.
Tehran efficaciously closed the cardinal shipping lane, done which ample amounts of lipid and state usually travel, successful retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli strikes launched successful February.
The aboriginal of the Strait of Hormuz remains a cardinal sticking constituent successful negotiations, with fears increasing that the planetary system volition beryllium deed hard arsenic pre-war lipid stockpiles are depleted.
European Union nations moved connected Friday (May 22, 2026) towards imposing sanctions connected Iranian officials and others liable for blocking the strait.
Mr. Baqaei besides listed the concern successful the strait and a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports arsenic issues to beryllium examined.
“The contented of ending the warfare connected each fronts, including Lebanon, is precise important,” helium added.
Lebanon front
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the West Asia warfare with rocket occurrence astatine Israel successful retaliation for the sidesplitting of Iran’s ultimate person successful U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Since a truce began connected April 17, Israel has continued to motorboat strikes, transportation retired demolitions and contented evacuation orders successful southbound Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah, which has besides kept up attacks.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks person killed astatine slightest 3,111 radical successful Lebanon since March 2.
The Ministry said Israeli strikes connected the southbound killed 10 radical connected Friday (May 22, 2026), including six rescuers and a child.
The Israeli subject besides announced a abstracted airstrike that killed 2 radical successful an country successful confederate Lebanon wherever it is warring Hezbollah.
The United States connected Thursday (May 21, 2026) sanctioned 9 Hezbollah-linked individuals it accused of “obstructing the bid process successful Lebanon”, including 2 officers.
It marked the archetypal clip Lebanese officers person been sanctioned by the United States.
