Pakistan has shared with the U.S. a revised ​proposal from Iran to end the conflict in ‌West Asia, a Pakistani source told ​Reuters on Monday (May 18, 2026), as peace talks appeared ⁠to remain stalled.

“We don’t have much time,” the source said, when asked if it would take time to ‌close gaps, adding that both countries “keep changing their goalposts”.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil ‌Baghaei confirmed that Tehran’s views had been “conveyed ‌to ⁠the American side through mediator Pakistan”.

U.S. President ⁠Donald Trump said last week that a ceasefire with Iran, which was reached in early April, was “on life support” after ​Tehran’s response to ‌a U.S. proposal to end the war made clear the two sides were still far apart on a number of issues.

The issues holding up ‌negotiations between the two sides include Iran’s ​nuclear ambitions and its control of the Strait of Hormuz, where it has ⁠shut down shipping traffic that normally carries one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.

Iran ‌has called for an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where U.S. ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Tehran has ruled out discussing its nuclear programme before the “permanent end of hostilities”.

Tehran also wants compensation ‌for war damage, an end to the U.S. naval blockade, ​a guarantee of no further attacks, and resumption of Iranian oil sales.

Mr. Baghaei said ⁠Tehran was prepared for all scenarios.

“As for their ⁠threats, rest assured that we are fully aware of how to respond appropriately to ‌even the smallest mistake from the opposing side,” Mr. Baghaei told a televised weekly press conference.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards held military exercises in the capital, Tehran, to prepare for any confrontation, state media reported Tuesday (May 12, 2026), after U.S. President Donald Trump warned a ceasefire in the West Asia war was on the brink of collapse.

The drills involved the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, as well as the Basij, a paramilitary force affiliated with the Guards, according to state TV.

“Enhancing combat capability to confront any movement of the American-Zionist enemy was one of the goals and scenarios implemented in this drill, which was successfully carried out,” Brigadier General Hassan Hassanzadeh, Commander of the Tehran Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by state TV.

The war, which started more than two months ago with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, spread across West Asia and damaged the global economy, affecting hundreds of millions worldwide.

Iran has choked off the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route out of the Gulf for oil, gas and fertiliser – seeking to wield economic leverage over the United States and its allies.

The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, is blockading Iran’s ports, at times disabling or diverting ships heading to and from them.