US and Iran both report progress towards a deal to end their war

Mediator Pakistan also says negotiations on 14-point document have been ‘encouraging’

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Iran, the US and mediator Pakistan all said on May 23 that progress had been made in talks on ending almost three months of war.

Tehran is focused on finalising a memorandum of understanding, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said after Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief.

Field Marshal Munir also met President Masoud Pezeshkian before leaving Tehran, Iranian state media reported. The Pakistani army said negotiations over the previous 24 hours had resulted in “encouraging” progress towards a final understanding.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting India, also said some progress had been made on Iran and that the US might have “something to say” on the issue in the coming days.

“There’s been some progress done, some progress made, even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple of days, we may have something to say,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

US President Donald Trump’s “preference is always to solve problems such as these through a negotiated diplomatic solution. That’s what we’re working on right now,” Mr Rubio said.

“But this problem will be solved, as the President’s made... clear, one way or the other.”