Pakistan's army chief Munir makes second Tehran mediation trip as Rubio cites 'slight progress'

Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on May 22, 2026 for his second mediation visit aimed at consolidating the US-Iran ceasefire and securing a second round of direct talks, Iran's IRNA reported. Al Jazeera said Munir was received by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni alongside Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi; The Week reported Munir also held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which Pakistan's military characterized as 'encouraging.' U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on the margins of NATO talks in Sweden, described 'a little bit of movement, and that's good,' while cautioning against exaggerating progress.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said gaps between Tehran and Washington remained 'deep and significant,' and an Iranian source stressed that a ceasefire on all fronts was a precondition for further negotiations. The diplomacy unfolded against the February 28, 2026 outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran; Pakistan brokered the initial April 8 two-week ceasefire and hosted US-Iran talks on April 11-12. Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, prompting EU moves toward sanctions on responsible Iranian officials.

The shuttle effort fed directly into the 60-day extension framework reported the following week.