Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, told visiting Pakistani army chief Asim Munir that Tehran will not compromise on what it calls its national rights and does not trust the United States as an honest negotiating partner, state TV reported on May 23, 2026. The visit was part of a Pakistan-led mediation effort aimed at narrowing differences between Iran and the U.S. after weeks of fighting that have forced most shipping out of the Strait of Hormuz despite a fragile ceasefire and have disrupted global energy markets.
Munir met Qalibaf and also held meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the latter twice, before leaving Tehran. The discussions focused on a 14-point document Iran has put forward as its preferred framework for talks and on exchanges of messages between the parties.
Qalibaf said Iran would pursue its “legitimate rights” by both military and diplomatic means and reiterated longstanding Iranian charges that the U.S. is not a trustworthy negotiating partner. He added that Iran’s armed forces have rebuilt capabilities during the ceasefire and warned that if the United States “foolishly restarts the war,” Tehran’s response would be stronger and more severe than at the outset of the conflict.
On the U.S. side, Republican Senator Marco Rubio said some progress toward a deal has been seen but that significant work remains; Iran’s foreign ministry countered that differences between the sides are still deep and substantial.
Despite weeks of hostilities, Iran has retained its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium as well as missile, drone and proxy capabilities that the United States and Israel seek to limit. The mediation push by Pakistan seeks to bridge those gaps and stabilize the situation, but both sides appear to remain far apart.