Pakistan's army chief mediates as Iran-US peace talks teeter on collapse
Tehran and Washington edge closer to a fragile peace deal as Pakistan’s army chief shuttles between capitals, but Iran accuses the U.S. of "excessive demands" that threaten to derail negotiations.
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Friday for high-stakes talks aimed at finalizing a letter of intent to end the 85-day war between Iran and the U.S.-led coalition, according to Pakistani and Iranian officials. Munir, who has led mediation efforts since the conflict’s outbreak, met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi late into Friday night, as reported by *Radio Farda* and *Axios* . The proposed agreement would halt hostilities and launch a 30-day negotiating window for a broader deal addressing Iran’s nuclear program and its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported on Saturday that Tehran views U.S. conditions as "excessive," particularly demands to dismantle its nuclear enrichment infrastructure and abandon plans to impose tolls on shipping in the Hormuz Strait . U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged "slight progress" but warned that any deal must permanently bar Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and end its "toll system" in the strait, which Tehran reaffirmed on Thursday . The U.S. has not ruled out further military strikes if talks collapse, according to *France24* .
Munir’s visit follows a flurry of regional diplomacy, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey also involved in mediation efforts. The Financial Times reported that delegations from these countries are in Tehran to prevent a resumption of full-scale war, which has killed thousands since a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28 triggered Iran’s retaliatory blockade of Hormuz . A temporary ceasefire, brokered on April 7, has held despite sporadic clashes.
The talks come as U.S. President Donald Trump faces growing opposition in Congress over the war’s cost, with lawmakers threatening to block further funding. Trump has described the negotiations as "teetering on the borderline between a deal and renewed attacks," underscoring the precariousness of the situation .
If successful, the deal would mark the first step toward a broader regional security framework, though analysts warn that Iran’s hardline factions may resist concessions on its nuclear program or Hormuz policy. The next 48 hours are critical, with mediators aiming to secure a signed agreement before the current ceasefire’s expiration.
> Background: **Iran, U.S. near deal on Hormuz and nuclear talks amid key disputes** — *18 hours ago*
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Pakistan's army chief mediates as Iran-US peace talks teeter on collapse
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