By Munir Ahmed and Matthew Lee
Associated Press
May 23, 2026 - 8:30 am
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The United States and Iran are adjacent to agreeing connected a memorandum of knowing aimed astatine ending the war, 2 determination officials and a diplomat said Saturday, arsenic the United States weighed a caller circular of attacks connected the Islamic Republic.
Iran signaled “narrowing differences” successful negotiations with the U.S. aft Pakistan’s service main held much talks successful Tehran, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists successful India that “there’s been immoderate advancement made” and “there whitethorn beryllium quality aboriginal today.”
The officials and diplomat expressed anticipation that a last determination connected the Pakistan-prepared draught could travel wrong 48 hours arsenic some sides reappraisal it. They spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to little the media.
They said Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner played important roles successful helping span remaining gaps, and that Qatar played a cardinal relation by sending a elder authoritative to Tehran to enactment Pakistan’s mediation efforts.
Still, some Iran and the U.S. emphasized their cardinal positions and person warned of the risks of resuming attacks.
Iran describes it arsenic a ‘framework agreement’ for much talks
Iran authorities TV quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei arsenic describing the draught arsenic a “framework agreement” and adding: “We privation this to see the main issues required for ending the imposed warfare and different issues of indispensable value to us. Then, implicit a tenable clip span, betwixt 30 to 60 days, details are discussed and yet a last statement is reached.”
He said the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics discussed.
Positions person moved person successful caller days, Iran’s authoritative IRNA quality bureau quoted Baghaei arsenic saying.
“Over the past week, the inclination has been toward narrowing differences,” helium said. “We volition person to hold and spot what happens implicit the adjacent 3 oregon 4 days.”
Baghaei said atomic issues are not portion of the existent negotiations, arsenic Tehran archetypal seeks to extremity the warfare earlier discussing its atomic programme that has agelong been astatine the bosom of planetary tensions.
“Our absorption astatine this signifier is connected ending the warfare connected each fronts, including Lebanon,” Baghaei said, adding that lifting sanctions connected Tehran “has explicitly been included successful the substance and remains our fixed position.”
Rubio said that “even arsenic I talk to you present determination is immoderate enactment being done. There is simply a accidental that whether it’s aboriginal today, tomorrow, successful a mates days we whitethorn person thing to say.”
Rubio repeated the U.S. stance that Iran tin ne'er person a atomic limb and indispensable crook implicit its highly enriched uranium, and the Strait of Hormuz indispensable beryllium open.
Iran has rebuilt subject assets aft weeks of warfare and past a fragile ceasefire, parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said aft the gathering with Field Marshal Asim Munir, authorities TV reported.
Qalibaf, the pb negotiator successful historical face-to-face talks with the U.S. past month, besides said the effect would beryllium “more crushing and much bitter” than astatine the commencement of the warfare if U.S. President Donald Trump resumes attacks.
Trump had said ‘serious negotiations’ were underway
Trump earlier said helium was holding disconnected connected a subject onslaught against Iran due to the fact that “serious negotiations” were underway, and astatine the petition of allies successful the Middle East. Trump has repeatedly acceptable deadlines for Tehran and past backed off.
The U.S. and Israel sparked the warfare with attacks connected Feb. 28, cutting abbreviated talks with Iran. Tehran retaliated by efficaciously closing the Strait of Hormuz, a cardinal waterway for the region’s oil, earthy state and fertilizer, causing planetary economical pain.
The U.S. past blockaded Iranian ports, and the U.S. Central Command connected Saturday said U.S. forces had turned distant much than 100 commercialized vessels and disabled 4 since the blockade began April 13.
There was advancement successful the talks betwixt Pakistan’s service main and Iran’s leadership, 2 officials successful Islamabad said, describing the discussions arsenic moving “in the close direction.” The officials spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to talk to the media connected the record.
Munir besides met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and different elder officials, the 2 officials said, adding that Islamabad continues efforts to put a 2nd circular of nonstop negotiations.
It was not wide whether Pakistan’s service main met with Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who heads Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, has go a large subordinate successful formulating Iran’s pugnacious stance successful talks.
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Lee reported from New Delhi, India.
English (US)·