U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope of progress on ending the war with Iran, as he looked to Pakistani mediators to help advance efforts to strike an agreement.

Previous comments by President Donald Trump had suggested weeks of stop-start negotiations to strike a permanent end to the war were teetering on the “borderline” between a deal and renewed attacks.

“I believe the Pakistanis will be travelling to Tehran today. So hopefully that’ll advance this further,” Mr. Rubio told reporters on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

A ceasefire on April 8 halted the war launched weeks earlier by the United States and Israel, but negotiation efforts, including historic face to face talks hosted in Islamabad have so far failed to yield a lasting agreement.

Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is widely considered close to Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir, visited Iran for the second time in a week on Wednesday.

Iranian media, including the ISNA news agency, had reported based on unnamed sources that Munir could himself visit Tehran as early as Thursday, but there was no comment from Pakistan authorities about any travel plan for the army chief.

Beijing did however, announce that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel on Saturday (May 23, 2026) to China, which has also been involved in mediation efforts to end the war.

‘Borderline’

Though open warfare and strikes across the Gulf have reduced, the impasse continues to weigh on the world economy.

In April, Pakistan hosted the only direct negotiations, which Munir helped mediate, between US and Iranian officials to take place since February 28, when the war began.

But the talks ultimately failed, with Tehran accusing Washington of making “excessive demands”.

Since then, the two sides have exchanged multiple proposals, with the threat of renewed conflict looming all along.

“It’s right on the borderline, believe me,” Mr. Trump told reporters Wednesday (May 20, 2026). “If we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go.”

He said a deal could come “very quickly” or “in a few days”, but warned Tehran would have to provide “100% good answers”.

Mr. Rubio also criticised NATO allies for their refusal to help in the war against Iran.

“He’s not asking them to commit troops. He’s not asking them to send their fighter jets in. But they refuse to do anything,” he said.

“We were very upset about that.”

‘Forceful response’

Tehran was on alert for the possibility of renewed armed conflict with chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning Washington on Wednesday of a “forceful response” if Iran were to be attacked.

“The enemy’s movements, both overt and clandestine, show that despite economic and political pressure, it has not abandoned its military objectives and is seeking to start a new war,” Mr. Ghalibaf said.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the Islamic republic was examining points received from Washington, while repeating Tehran’s demands for the release of its assets frozen abroad and an end to a US naval blockade.

Despite fiery rhetoric against Iran, Trump is under political pressure at home to find a resolution as energy costs rise.

The ceasefire halted the fighting but has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.

The future of Hormuz remains a key sticking point in negotiations, with fears growing that the global economy will feel more pain as pre-war oil stockpiles deplete.

Iran imposed a Hormuz blockade as part of its retaliation in the war, allowing only a trickle of vessels through in recent weeks while introducing a toll system.

Iran’s new body overseeing Hormuz said its claimed area of control extends to Emirati waters, drawing a sharp rebuke from Abu Dhabi.

Relations between Iran and the United Arab Emirates have been severely strained since the war, after Tehran launched missile and drone strikes against Gulf countries in response to US-Israeli attacks.

Hormuz carries around a third of global fertiliser shipments, raising concerns of higher food prices and shortages if the closure drags on.

Lebanon strikes

On another front in the war, Lebanese state media reported that an Israeli strike on Thursday damaged a hospital in Lebanon’s south.

Since a truce began on April 17, Israel has continued to launch strikes, carry out demolitions and issue evacuation orders in south Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah, which has also kept up attacks.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,089 people in Lebanon since March 2.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the West Asia war with rocket fire at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli strikes.

The United States on Thursday (May 21, 2026) sanctioned nine Hezbollah-linked individuals it accused of “obstructing the peace process in Lebanon”.

Published – May 22, 2026 08:10 am IST

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on February 14, 2026
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
| Photo Credit: AP

Washington DC:

Indicating the importance Washington gives to New Delhi as the new Trump administration takes office, US Secretary of State Maro Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Walz held their first bilateral and international meets respectively with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is in Washington at the invitation of the US Government to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. The meeting between the two top diplomats representing the world’s oldest and largest democracies took place at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department. The bilateral meeting was preceded by the first Quad ministerial meet after Donald Trump became President.

NEW US SECRETARY OF STATE’S FIRST BILATERAL MEETING

Marco Rubio’s decision to have his first bilateral meeting with India’s S Jaishankar assumes significance given that the first foreign outreach of any previous new US administration traditionally has been with its two neighbours Canada and Mexico, or with one of its NATO allies.

The bilateral meeting between new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Dr Jaishankar comes less than an hour after the former officially took office. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions during which they delved into the entire gamut of the India-US strategic partnership. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, also had India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, being part of it.

Immediately after the meeting, Secretary Rubio and Dr Jaishankar made a joint appearance before the international press, where they shook hands and posed for the official photographs.

“Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State. Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate. Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation,” Dr Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X shortly after the meeting.

Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State.

Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate.

Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues.

Look… pic.twitter.com/NVpBUEAyHK

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S MAIDEN QUAD MEET

Immediately before the two leaders met for bilateral talks, they joined their counterparts Penny Wong from Australia and Iwaya Takeshi from Japan for the new Trump administration’s maiden Quad meeting – a diplomatic and security partnership set up by the four nations to maintain peace and freedom of navigation under a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting between the four top leaders went on for more than an hour, at the end of which they appeared before the press for a customary photograph. They however, did not take any questions or give any statement.

“Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong and Takeshi Iwaya for their participation,” Dr Jaishankar wrote, adding that it is “Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states. Our wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation.

Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This… pic.twitter.com/uGa4rjg1Bw

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

He further noted that the four leaders “Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good.”

MEETING WITH NEW US NSA MIKE WALZ

After these two meetings, Dr Jaishankar held another top meeting – with new US National Security Adviser or NSA Mike Walz. For Mr Walz too, this was his first international meeting since taking office earlier that same day. The meeting took place at the White House.

“Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon. Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity. Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda,” Dr Jaishankar said after the meeting.

Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon.

Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity.

Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda.

pic.twitter.com/LUlc1WBbWm

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was seen in the front row as US President Donald Trump delivered his inaugural address at the Capital Rotunda in Washington DC. Dr Jaishankar said it was a “great honour” to attend the ceremony as India’s special envoy. He also met members of the new Trump administration, including the 56th Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and nominee for the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel.

He also exchanged a handshake with Vivek Ramaswamy, who quit the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency to possible pursue the race for Ohio Governor.