Pakistan confirms progress toward final US-Iran understanding

Progress in talks

Pakistan's military confirmed on Saturday that "encouraging progress" has been achieved toward a final understanding between the United States and Iran to end their war, following a day-long visit to Tehran by Army Chief Field Marshall Asim Munir.

Munir, who arrived in the Iranian capital on Friday evening for his second visit in recent weeks, held separate meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Bagher Qalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as part of Islamabad's ongoing mediation efforts. "The intensive negotiations over the last 24 hours have resulted in encouraging progress towards a final understanding," the Pakistan army said in a statement, noting that discussions focused upon expediting the consultative process to support peace and stability. The engagements were held in a positive and constructive environment, the statement added, contributing meaningfully toward the mediation process as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately confirmed on Friday that talks had produced "some progress."

War origins

The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks targeting Israel as well as Washington's allies in the Gulf — alongside the de facto closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The fighting continued until April 8, when Pakistan secured a ceasefire between the warring parties, though subsequent talks hosted in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. US President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitely as mediators continued working toward a comprehensive settlement.

Truce status

Since the April ceasefire took effect, Washington and Tehran have continued exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to resume direct talks and end the conflict. The latest diplomatic push follows the failure of earlier Islamabad-hosted negotiations to yield a permanent framework, despite Pakistan's successful intervention to halt open hostilities on April 8. Trump subsequently extended the truce indefinitely to allow for further negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement.