US Signals "Slight Progress" as Pakistan Army Chief Flies to Tehran for Third Round of Talks

Secretary of State Rubio upgraded his assessment of the Iran negotiations to 'slight progress' — carefully hedging: 'I don't want to exaggerate it, but there's been a little bit of movement, and that's good.' In a major intensification of Islamabad's mediation push, Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir flew to Tehran for a third round of talks, joined by Interior Minister Naqvi. The visit elevated Pakistan's military leadership directly into the peace process alongside civilian diplomats. Iran confirmed 'ongoing exchange of messages' with the US through Pakistan as the primary channel. The three-party dynamic — with the US and Iran unable to talk directly and Pakistan serving as trusted intermediary — became the defining architecture of the post-war diplomatic process. Iran signaled cautious optimism while maintaining redlines on sovereignty and sanctions.