CDF Munir discusses regional developments, de-escalation efforts in meeting with Iran's FM Araghchi

Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran for talks on regional developments and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, according to Iranian media.#AsimMunir #AbbasAraghchi #PakistanIranRelations… pic.twitter.com/4gQHDgrZPL

A day earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the field marshal had reached Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts.

He was received and warmly welcomed by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the reception.

 

Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi in Tehran for late-night talks focused on diplomatic efforts to halt US-Israeli aggression and strengthen regional peace and stability.

Follow: https://t.co/B3zXG74hnU pic.twitter.com/L8tohHLcP2

 

US weighs renewed military action against Iran as negotiations continue: report

The Trump administration is considering launching another military operation against Iran amid diplomatic efforts to reach a new agreement that remains underway, according to a report on Friday.

CBS News reported that no final decision had been made by Friday, but preparations for possible action were continuing within the US government and military.

The report said President Donald Trump cancelled plans to spend the Memorial Day weekend at his golf club in New Jersey and instead planned to return to the White House due to what he described as "circumstances pertaining to Government."

Several US military and intelligence personnel also reportedly changed or cancelled holiday plans as officials prepared for the possibility of renewed conflict.

The report said defence officials have been reviewing personnel recall lists at overseas bases, while troop rotations continue across the Middle East amid fears of possible retaliation from Iran.

Read: CDF Asim Munir arrives in Tehran for ongoing mediation efforts: ISPR

The US and Iran have largely avoided direct attacks since a temporary ceasefire took effect in April, allowing indirect negotiations on a broader agreement to continue.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CBS News that Trump remained firm that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and warned that Washington was prepared for all possible scenarios if talks fail.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, meanwhile, warned earlier this week that any future attacks by the US or Israel could expand the conflict beyond the region.

The report said Tehran is expected to respond soon to a recent US proposal delivered through Pakistan, which has been serving as an intermediary.

Turkish, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Tehran-Washington talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Friday discussed the latest developments in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

The conversation took place in a phone call, according to Turkish diplomatic sources

Read more: Gabbard resigns as Trump's top intel official

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. US President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitely.

Turkish foreign minister discusses Iran-US talks with Qatari counterpart, Pakistani mediators

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held telephone talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as well as Pakistani mediators to discuss the latest stage of negotiations between Iran and the United States, Turkish diplomatic sources said Friday.

According to sources from Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, the talks focused on recent developments in ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US.

No further details were immediately provided.

The United States has seen some progress towards a deal with Iran but more work is required, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, while Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said the two sides' differences were deep and significant.

Intensifying diplomacy to end the conflict, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday to press on with mediation efforts, and Iranian media reported that Iran's foreign minister and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had met there.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi holds another meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to review proposals aimed at ending US-Israeli war with Iran – Iranian media. Here's more 👇 pic.twitter.com/X0GacaTa1r

Qatar also sent a negotiating team, which is working in coordination with the United States, to the Iranian capital to try to resolve the sides' main differences, six weeks into a fragile ceasefire.

While some gaps have been narrowed, there are still sticking points over Iran's enriched uranium and control over the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure since the start of the war has triggered a global energy crisis.

"There's been some progress. I wouldn't exaggerate it. I wouldn't diminish it," Rubio told reporters after a meeting of NATO ministers in Helsingborg in Sweden. "There's more work to be done. We're not there yet. I hope we get there."

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to the negotiations, said negotiations were continuing. The source added that progress had been made on some issues, but no agreement would be reached until all disputed matters are resolved.

Rubio reiterated comments made on Thursday that Iran's plans for a tolling system for the strait through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows were "unacceptable".

"We're dealing with a very difficult group of people, and if it doesn't change, then the president's been clear he has other options," Rubio said.

President Donald Trump said on Friday he was skipping his eldest son's wedding this weekend because he needs to remain in Washington "during this important period of time," without elaborating.

Two days after presenting the Iranians with the latest US message in negotiations, Pakistani Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi held another round of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, Tasnim reported.

Despite the intensifying mediation efforts, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, was quoted by IRNA news agency as saying diplomacy takes time and suggesting that the sides had not reached a point where an agreement was close.

He said nuclear issues were not being discussed and that a conclusion would not be reached if the US sought to delve into details about highly enriched uranium in Iran.

Iran has kept its stockpile of enriched uranium that it has repeatedly said is for peaceful purposes only, and its ability to defend itself against US attacks originating from neighbouring countries.

The US and Israel claim their war aims are to destroy Iran's support for regional militias, eradicate its nuclear program after Israel has claimed for years that Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon, destroy its missile capabilities and give support to local agitators to try and forcibly overthrow the Iranian government.