Field Marshal Munir, Qatari team in Tehran as US-Iran deal ‘prospects brighten’

• CDF/COAS arrives in Iran for high-level talks on regional peace as Pakistan intensifies diplomacy on US-Iran tensions

• Visit coincides with Qatari delegation’s arrival for US-coordinated negotiations in Tehran

• ISPR says Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni receives Field Marshal Munir on arrival

• US says it remains in ‘constant communication’ with Field Marshal Munir over Iran talks

• Rubio claims Pakistan playing key role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran

• Munir joined by interior minister Mohsin Naqvi who is already in Iranian capital

• Key sticking points remain nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security concerns

• Talks in Tehran focus on proposals to resolve ongoing disputes, Tasnim reports

 TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD: Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday evening for high-level talks expected to focus on the US-Iran conflict and broader regional peace efforts, as Pakistan intensified its diplomatic engagement aimed at de-escalating months of tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Field Marshal Munir’s arrival coincided with the visit of a Qatari negotiating team to Tehran on Friday, which is reportedly working in coordination with the United States to help secure a possible agreement aimed at ending the conflict and addressing outstanding issues, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

On arrival, the army chief was “received and warmly welcomed” by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has departed for an official visit to Iran, where discussions are expected on Iran–US dialogue, regional stability and key bilateral issues. He is also scheduled to meet senior Iranian leadership during the visit, according to security sources… pic.twitter.com/e6HsJFfLRj

— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) May 22, 2026

The military’s media wing added that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the reception.

According to sources, the visit comes amid continued diplomatic activity involving multiple regional stakeholders seeking to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.

#BREAKING

COAS & CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir arrived in Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts. Upon arrival, he was warmly received by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present on the occasion, says ISPR… pic.twitter.com/jP9AIJAO9B

— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) May 22, 2026

Field Marshal Munir is expected to hold meetings with senior Iranian leadership to discuss US-Iran talks, regional stability and other key issues during his visit, according to sources. Earlier in the day, security sources had confirmed his departure for Iran.

Iran's Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni welcomes Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir upon his arrival in Tehran.

Follow Press TV on Telegram: https://t.co/LWoNSpkJSh pic.twitter.com/D4BWlJHNdV

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 22, 2026

The visit comes as Pakistan has taken a more active diplomatic role in recent months, engaging with both Tehran and Washington to help prevent wider regional escalation following renewed tensions in the Middle East.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA earlier cited a diplomatic source in Islamabad as saying that Field Marshal Munir had departed for Tehran and would meet senior Iranian officials during the visit.

“The field marshal is going to Iran,” a security source told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity when asked about the visit.

Pakistan’s military leadership has been playing an increasingly prominent role in regional diplomatic outreach in recent months.

CDF/COAS Munir is accompanied in his broader diplomatic engagements by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who has already met Iranian leadership twice this week.

 US says it remains in ‘constant communication’ with Field Marshal Munir

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained in “constant communication” with Field Marshal Asim Munir, adding that senior levels of the US government were regularly engaged with him.

He also praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

“The primary interlocutor on this has been Pakistan and continues to be, and they’ve done an admirable job trying to mediate a peace deal,” Rubio was quoted as saying by Fox News.

“Pakistan has been the primary country we have been working with on all of this, and that remains the case. We are in constant communication with Field Marshal Asim Munir at the highest levels of our government.”—Marco Rubio#MarcoRubio #AsimMunir #Pakistan #IslamabadTalks… pic.twitter.com/HkyfqK2a3Y

— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) May 22, 2026

“Obviously, other countries may have their own situation going on. We talk to all of them. But I would just say the primary country we’ve been working with on all of this is Pakistan, and that remains the case,” he told reporters in Sweden.

Qatari delegation arrives in Tehran for talks

Separately, a Qatari negotiating team also arrived in Tehran on Friday in coordination with the United States to help secure a possible agreement aimed at ending the conflict and resolving outstanding issues, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Reuters reports that the State of Qatar has sent a negotiating team to Tehran to help with the ongoing Iran-US negotiations to end the imposed war on Iran. pic.twitter.com/fEYGvbw46b

— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) May 22, 2026

Doha, which has previously played a mediating role in regional conflicts, had until now distanced itself from an official mediation role in the Iran crisis following attacks involving Iranian missiles and drones during the latest escalation.

Rubio says ‘slight progress’ in Iran talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “slight progress” in talks with Iran, while cautioning that uncertainty remains over whether a deal will ultimately be reached or whether hostilities could resume.

He said discussions were ongoing but warned against overstating progress, noting that while there had been “a little bit of movement,” a comprehensive agreement remained elusive.

 Interior Minister Naqvi, Iranian FM Araghchi review proposals

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran to review proposals aimed at resolving ongoing disputes, according to Tasnim News Agency, as Pakistan continues its diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran.

دیدار مجدد وزیر کشور پاکستان با وزیر خارجه کشورمان برای بررسی پیشنهادات

محسن نقوی جلسه دیگری با عباس عراقچی برای بررسی پیشنهادات برای حل اختلافات برگزار کرد

— خبرگزاری تسنیم - خبر فوری (@Tasnimbrk) May 22, 2026

The meeting comes amid sustained Pakistani attempts to mediate between Washington and Tehran following earlier rounds of engagement, including reported discussions hosted in Islamabad earlier this year.

The first round of direct US-Iran talks was held on April 11 and 12 after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8. While the talks ended without a breakthrough agreement, they also did not collapse.

US President Donald Trump later called off a planned visit of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad for a second round of negotiations with Iran. He also extended the ceasefire indefinitely, citing requests from Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Pakistan has since stepped up its diplomatic outreach, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visiting Tehran for the second time in less than a week to help revive negotiations. During his earlier engagements, he met Iran’s president, parliament speaker and foreign minister.

The Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had also visited Iran for three days last month alongside Naqvi, meeting Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described those visits as part of ongoing mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation between Iran and the US.

Diplomatic sources say Pakistan continues to relay messages between Tehran and Washington, although major differences persist over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz, and broader regional security concerns involving missile capabilities and allied armed groups.

 Trump warns of renewed strikes if deal not reached

The latest diplomatic contacts are taking place under heightened international pressure. US President Donald Trump has said talks are in their final stages but warned that military strikes could resume if a deal is not reached within a “limited timeframe.”

Iran has warned of broader regional and beyond-region consequences in the event of a US attack, while maintaining that diplomatic channels remain open to prevent renewed hostilities.

The Foreign Office (FO) has reiterated that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with Islamabad continuing to act as a facilitator despite the absence of a final breakthrough.

FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi recently said the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would visit China from May 23–26, where the US-Iran situation is expected to be part of discussions. However, he neither confirmed nor denied reports of a Pakistani high-level delegation visiting Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran had received new US proposals and was currently reviewing them. He reiterated Iran’s demands, including the release of frozen assets and an end to restrictions on Iranian ports.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route, remains a central point of contention in the ongoing tensions. Earlier reports suggested disruptions and countermeasures affecting maritime movement and oil flows.

European countries and other global stakeholders have expressed concern over prolonged instability, citing disruptions to global shipping and rising energy pressures.

Pentagon officials have also maintained a strong security posture in the region, underscoring US naval control over key maritime routes.

Key sticking points remain unresolved, including ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon, regional security guarantees, sanctions relief, and Iran’s nuclear programme. The US has demanded limits on Iran’s regional military activities, while Tehran insists on guarantees against future attacks and broader security assurances.