Pakistan's army chief is in Tehran as diplomacy around the Middle East war gathered pace, with Iran weighing a new US peace proposal while warning that deep divisions still stand in the way of a deal.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Friday cautioned that the visit of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir did not mean "we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation."
The disagreements between Iran and the United States remained "deep and extensive", he added, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.
Meanwhile, US media outlets were reporting that the US is weighing new military strikes on Iran.
The reports, from CBS and Axios, come just hours after US President Donald Trump said he would not travel to attend his son's wedding this weekend due to "circumstances pertaining to government" and his "love for the United States of America."
Trump said that it was "important for me to remain in Washington, DC, at the White House during this important period of time."
CBS reported, citing unnamed sources, that members of the US military and intelligence apparatus were cancelling holiday weekend plans in anticipation of possible strikes.
Pakistan remains official mediator
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier voiced hope of progress toward ending the war, which began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
An April 8 ceasefire halted open fighting, but negotiations — including face-to-face talks in Islamabad — have yet to produce a lasting agreement.
President Donald Trump has described the stop-start negotiations as teetering on the "borderline" between a deal and renewed attacks.
Pakistan's military said that Munir had "arrived in Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts".
He was welcomed by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Pakistan's Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi had visited Iran for the second time in a week on Wednesday, meeting President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Baqaei said a Qatari delegation also met Iran's foreign minister Friday.
"In recent days, many countries — both regional and non-regional — have been trying to help bring the war to an end...However, Pakistan remains the official mediator," he added.
Munir played a central role in that round, greeting both delegations and showing public warmth with US Vice President JD Vance.
But the talks failed, with Iran accusing Washington of making "excessive demands". Since then, the two sides have traded proposals under the constant threat of renewed war.
Hormuz squeeze
Rubio, speaking on the margins of a NATO meeting in Sweden, said there had been "some progress" in the talks, but warned that Washington was "not there yet".
"It may not" change, Rubio said. "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 Trump "prefers the negotiated option" but had expressed concern that a deal "maybe...is not possible".
He also said Trump's "disappointment" with NATO allies over their lack of support in the Iran war would need to be "addressed".
European countries may need a "Plan B", Rubio said, to help force open the Strait of Hormuz if the war drags on.
Tehran effectively closed the key shipping lane, which normally carries large volumes of oil and gas, in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes.
The future of Hormuz remains a key sticking point, with fears growing that the global economy will suffer as pre-war oil stockpiles run down.
Markets nevertheless took some comfort from the diplomacy, with Wall Street rising Friday and the Dow closing at a second straight record high as investors bet talks could eventually produce an off-ramp.
Oil prices also rose, however, underscoring fears that disruption in Hormuz will keep feeding inflation. US consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level since records began in 1952, with high prices still eroding household finances.
European Union nations moved on Friday towards sanctions on Iranian officials and others blamed for blocking the strait.
Baqaei said Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports were also under discussion.
"The issue of ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is very important," he added.
