U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope of progress on ending the warfare with Iran, as he seemed to Pakistani mediators to assist advance efforts to strike an settlement.
Earlier feedback by President Donald Trump had recommended weeks of stop-start negotiations to strike a everlasting finish to the warfare had been teetering on the “borderline” between a deal and renewed assaults.
Iran-Israel warfare LIVE updates- Could 22, 2026
“I imagine the Pakistanis will probably be travelling to Tehran at the moment. So hopefully that’ll advance this additional,” Mr. Rubio instructed reporters on Thursday (Could 21, 2026).
A ceasefire on April 8 halted the warfare launched weeks earlier by america and Israel, however negotiation efforts, together with historic head to head talks hosted in Islamabad have thus far did not yield an enduring settlement.
Pakistan’s inside minister Mohsin Naqvi, who’s broadly thought of near Pakistan’s highly effective military chief Asim Munir, visited Iran for the second time in per week on Wednesday.
Iranian media, together with the ISNA information company, had reported based mostly on unnamed sources that Munir may himself go to Tehran as early as Thursday, however there was no remark from Pakistan authorities about any journey plan for the military chief.
Beijing did nonetheless, announce that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will journey on Saturday (Could 23, 2026) to China, which has additionally been concerned in mediation efforts to finish the warfare.
‘Borderline’
Although open warfare and strikes throughout the Gulf have decreased, the deadlock continues to weigh on the world economic system.
In April, Pakistan hosted the one direct negotiations, which Munir helped mediate, between US and Iranian officers to happen since February 28, when the warfare started.
However the talks in the end failed, with Tehran accusing Washington of creating “extreme calls for”.
Since then, the 2 sides have exchanged a number of proposals, with the specter of renewed battle looming all alongside.
“It’s proper on the borderline, imagine me,” Mr. Trump instructed reporters Wednesday (Could 20, 2026). “If we don’t get the appropriate solutions, it goes in a short time. We’re all able to go.”
He mentioned a deal may come “in a short time” or “in a couple of days”, however warned Tehran must present “100% good solutions”.
Mr. Rubio additionally criticised NATO allies for his or her refusal to assist in the warfare towards Iran.
“He’s not asking them to commit troops. He’s not asking them to ship their fighter jets in. However they refuse to do something,” he mentioned.
“We had been very upset about that.”
‘Forceful response’
Tehran was on alert for the potential for renewed armed battle with chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning Washington on Wednesday of a “forceful response” if Iran had been to be attacked.
“The enemy’s actions, each overt and clandestine, present that regardless of financial and political strain, it has not deserted its navy goals and is searching for to begin a brand new warfare,” Mr. Ghalibaf mentioned.
Iran’s Overseas Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei mentioned the Islamic republic was inspecting factors acquired from Washington, whereas repeating Tehran’s calls for for the discharge of its property frozen overseas and an finish to a US naval blockade.
Regardless of fiery rhetoric towards Iran, Trump is underneath political strain at residence to discover a decision as power prices rise.
The ceasefire halted the combating however has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the important waterway that usually carries a couple of fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied pure fuel.
The way forward for Hormuz stays a key sticking level in negotiations, with fears rising that the worldwide economic system will really feel extra ache as pre-war oil stockpiles deplete.
Iran imposed a Hormuz blockade as a part of its retaliation within the warfare, permitting solely a trickle of vessels by in latest weeks whereas introducing a toll system.
Iran’s new physique overseeing Hormuz mentioned its claimed space of management extends to Emirati waters, drawing a pointy rebuke from Abu Dhabi.
Relations between Iran and the United Arab Emirates have been severely strained because the warfare, after Tehran launched missile and drone strikes towards Gulf international locations in response to US-Israeli assaults.
Hormuz carries round a 3rd of worldwide fertiliser shipments, elevating issues of upper meals costs and shortages if the closure drags on.
Lebanon strikes
On one other entrance within the warfare, Lebanese state media reported that an Israeli strike on Thursday broken a hospital in Lebanon’s south.
Since a truce started on April 17, Israel has continued to launch strikes, perform demolitions and situation evacuation orders in south Lebanon, saying it’s focusing on Hezbollah, which has additionally stored up assaults.
Lebanon’s Well being Ministry mentioned Israeli assaults have killed at the least 3,089 folks in Lebanon since March 2.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the West Asia warfare with rocket hearth at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme chief in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
The USA on Thursday (Could 21, 2026) sanctioned 9 Hezbollah-linked people it accused of “obstructing the peace course of in Lebanon”.
Printed – Could 22, 2026 08:10 am IST