War on Iran: Tehran says Washington's latest proposal has 'narrowed the gaps'

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]A cautious optimism as efforts to end the war between the US and Iran reach a critical state with Pakistan in active mediation. Iran says gaps have narrowed following talks between Pakistan's interior minister and Iran's foreign minister in Thran. The US Secretary of State also pointed to quote some good signs in negotiations but major sticking points remain. Washington wants control over Iran's highlyenriched uranium stockpile, which the US says could be used for Tehran's nuclear program. The two sides also divided over sanctions relief and control of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains a critical flash point. Marco Rubio has warned there can be no deal if Tehran pushes ahead with plans to impose tolls on ships that clear passage there. Iran's revolutionary guards says 35 ships including oil tankers and container vessels passed through the strait in the past 24 hours under its coordination.

[00:01:04]And here are most of us tracking developments for CNA live from Islamabad here from Pakistan's point of view. How close are these two sides to a breakthrough?

[00:01:21]Well, what we are hearing from the officials in Pakistan, Islamabad is continuing its back channel diplomacy.

[00:01:27]What we do know is that um on multiple occasions uh the country's prime minister Shabbash Sharif and foreign minister Isakdar has reiterated that they're in direct contact uh with the Iranian leadership as well as they're in contact uh with the regional countries and with the help of the regional countries they are trying to bridge the gap between the waring parties Iran Iran and the US. But there is cautious optimism as you mentioned uh in the capital Islamabad uh as there are certain major sticking points with regards to Iran's nuclear program. US has concerns over the stockpiling of Iran's uranium enrichment as well as straight of Hermuz which is a critical waterway for trading and ever since the war on Iran has started. The closure of straight of Hermuz has rattled uh global markets. It's a point of concern. There are major sticking points which officials here in Islamabad are also uh admitting but uh they are also expressing uh some sort of positivity as uh the country's interior minister in a lash ditch effort is in um Iran to bridge the gap between the waring parties to somehow find a middle ground to resolve the conflict permanently.

[00:02:41]What we are hearing from many analysts in the capital is that Islamabad is going to use all its influence um with the help of uh the regional players that includes China uh Saudi Arabia, Kuwait in order to uh bring the waring parties to the negotiating table.

[00:02:59]>> All right. Uh hero you mentioned Islamabad's influence. What influence can Islam Ababad bring to bear on these two parties who are on fundamental decisions so very far apart?

[00:03:20]Well, Islamabad's role is very pivotal in all these negotiations because Islamabad not only um enjoys a good relationship with Iran but it is also um has a trust of the current US administration on multiple occasions. We have seen uh the US President Donald Trump praising Prime Minister Shabbash Sharif as well as the country's army chief often calling him as favorite field marshal. Similarly, we have seen uh same sort of statements coming from the Iranian leadership in which they thanked uh Pakistan for mediating uh talks between uh both the waring parties. Uh the country's interior minister currently is on a trip to um Thran. It's important to note here that it's the second trip of the interior minister in less than a week which signals the urgency of the matter. What we are hearing from different diplomatic sources is that he is there uh to bring both the waring parties to find a middle ground. He's facilitating uh communication between Iran and the US.

[00:04:19]And there there are speculations and rumors that he's also there to somehow uh bring the waring parties to achieve some sort of framework to end the hostilities permanently. He's someone who's very close to the country's army chief um who in Islamabad is being viewed as a very important figure in mediating talks between the US and Iran.

[00:04:42]>> Oh, thanks Aira Mustafa there reporting live for CNA from Islamabad. Of course, Pakistan a very active party in mediating these indirect talks between the US and Iran.