Iran confirms Qatar-hosted talks to end US-Iran war, with Pakistan serving as lead mediator

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on May 22 that active negotiations are underway to end the US-Iran war, with Qatar hosting the talks and Pakistan serving as the lead mediator. The announcement marks the most concrete diplomatic framework to emerge since the conflict began on February 28, 2026.

A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran the same day, joined by a high-ranking Pakistani delegation led by Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The goal is straightforward: turn a fragile ceasefire into a permanent end to hostilities.

What we know about the negotiations

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the current round of talks is focused exclusively on ending the war. Nuclear issues are explicitly excluded from the negotiating table for now.

Iran has already responded to US ceasefire proposals through Pakistani mediators, seeking a permanent end to hostilities rather than another temporary pause.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged on May 19 that more time is needed to resolve the negotiations.

The war’s trajectory so far

The conflict broke out on February 28, 2026, following a series of escalating confrontations that included US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.

A fragile ceasefire was established around April 8-12, 2026, roughly six weeks into the conflict.

What this means for markets and investors

The Strait of Hormuz, which sits at the doorstep of this conflict, is the narrow waterway through which a massive share of global oil shipments pass. The fragile ceasefire has already created a push-pull dynamic in oil markets, with traders pricing in both the possibility of a permanent peace deal and the risk of a ceasefire collapse.

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