In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, speaks with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-05-23T14:40:39Z<\/p>\n
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) \u2014 The United States and Iran are closing in on a deal to end the war in the Middle East<\/a><\/span>, a regional official with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led mediation efforts said Saturday, as the U.S. has weighed a new round of attacks on the Islamic Republic<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations, said the parties have made \u201csignificant progress\u201d in talks, but cautioned that \u201clast-minute disputes\u201d could blow up the efforts.<\/p>\n He said the potential deal would include an official declaration of the war\u2019s end, with two-month negotiations on Iran\u2019s nuclear program. The Strait of Hormuz would be reopened and the U.S. would end its blockade of Iran\u2019s ports. He did not give details.<\/p>\n Earlier, two regional officials and a diplomat expressed hope that a final decision on the Pakistan-prepared draft could come within 48 hours as both sides review it. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.<\/p>\n Iran, meanwhile, signaled \u201cnarrowing differences\u201d in negotiations with the U.S.<\/a><\/span> after Pakistan\u2019s army chief held more talks in Tehran, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in India that \u201cthere\u2019s been some progress made\u201d and \u201cthere may be news later today.\u201d<\/p>\n The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the negotiations. U.S. President Donald Trump<\/a><\/span> spent Saturday at the White House, out of sight and largely silent on social media.<\/p>\n