diplomacySaturday, May 23, 202624 sources

US, Iran, and Pakistan announce near-final agreement to end war; Israel expresses concern

On May 23, 2026, the United States, Iran, and Pakistan reported significant progress toward a peace agreement to end the war. The deal, which includes an interim memorandum of understanding, is nearing finalization, with US President Donald Trump stating it had been 'largely negotiated.' Israel, however, voiced concerns over the agreement's implications.

The United States, Iran, and Pakistan confirmed that talks to end the war were in their final stages. Iran's Foreign Ministry stated it was 'finalizing' a memorandum of understanding with the US, while Pakistan's army chief and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated the agreement was being 'fine-tuned.' US President Donald Trump claimed the deal had been 'largely negotiated,' with the proposal including opening the Strait of Hormuz. However, Israel expressed concern over the agreement's potential impact on regional security, as reported by Middle East Eye. The agreement is expected to be approved by Iran within several days, according to Tass. Tehran says the framework for the deal is nearing completion, while Washington says the agreement is subject to finalization. Pakistan confirmed 'encouraging progress' toward a 'final understanding' between the US and Iran, with the next round of negotiations planned soon.

Where Sources Diverge

France24 and The Straits Times report progress on talks ending war, while Middle East Eye reports that the agreement is nearing final stage

france24

Significant movement here in Washington: US and Iran report progress towards deal on ending war

straits-times

US and Iran report progress on talks ending war, looking to next few days

middle-east-eye

US, Iran and Pakistan say talks progressing towards agreement

Anadolu and Middle East Eye report that Pakistan, Iran, and Qatar are finalizing an interim agreement with the US to end the Middle East war

anadolu

Pakistan, Iran, Qatar 'finalizing' interim agreement with US to end Middle East war

middle-east-eye

Pakistan official says Iran war interim deal is in final phase

NHK World reports that media reports outline possible US-Iran deal, while The Hindu reports that US President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran had been 'largely negotiated'

nhk-world

Media reports outline possible US-Iran deal

the-hindu

US President Donald Trump said on May 23, that a deal with Iran had been 'largely negotiated'

Timelines

Sources

StateTASSMay 24, 09:09 PM
US expects Iran to approve peace agreement within several days — media

The official said there are still several details to close, Axios and Israel’s Channel 12 correspondent Barak Ravid said

PublicNHK WorldMay 24, 05:06 PM
Media: US-Iran deal could take 'days' - nhk.or.jp

Media: US-Iran deal could take 'days'  nhk.or.jp

PublicNHK WorldMay 24, 03:36 PM
Media reports outline possible US-Iran deal - nhk.or.jp

Media reports outline possible US-Iran deal  nhk.or.jp

PublicNHK WorldMay 24, 10:27 AM
Pakistan, Iran report progress toward US-Iran agreement - nhk.or.jp

Pakistan, Iran report progress toward US-Iran agreement  nhk.or.jp

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 24, 07:32 AM
Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan ready for next round of negotiations - Middle East Eye

Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan ready for next round of negotiations  Middle East Eye

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 24, 07:14 AM
Israel voices concern as US-Iran agreement nears final stage - Middle East Eye

Israel voices concern as US-Iran agreement nears final stage  Middle East Eye

IndependentThe HinduMay 24, 05:41 AM
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Pakistan hopes to host new round of Iran-U.S. talks 'very soon', says PM Shehbaz Sharif

U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 23, that a deal with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” with the proposal including opening the crucial Strait of Hormuz, though the agreement was “subject to finalisation.”

PublicFrance 24May 23, 11:27 PM
'Significant movement here in Washington': US and Iran report progress towards deal on ending war

FRANCE 24 correspondent Fraser Jackson speaks from Washington, DC on the reported progress in the talks on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran.

IndependentNikkei AsiaMay 23, 11:13 PM
US, Iran and Pakistan report progress on talks ending war - Nikkei Asia

US, Iran and Pakistan report progress on talks ending war  Nikkei Asia

PublicChannel News AsiaMay 23, 10:41 PM
US and Iran report progress on talks ending war, looking to next few days

Iran, the United States and ​mediator Pakistan all said on Saturday (May 23) that progress had been made in talks on ending almost three months of war, with President Donald Trump saying they are "getting a lot closer" to an agreement.

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 23, 10:29 PM
Pakistan official says Iran war interim deal is in final phase - Middle East Eye

Pakistan official says Iran war interim deal is in final phase  Middle East Eye

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 23, 09:37 PM
Agreement being “fine-tuned” to end US-Iran war, says Pakistani official - Middle East Eye

Agreement being “fine-tuned” to end US-Iran war, says Pakistani official  Middle East Eye

StateIRNAMay 23, 08:32 PM
Iran working on ‘finalizing MoU’ with US on ending war on all fronts: Foreign Ministry - IRNA English

Iran working on ‘finalizing MoU’ with US on ending war on all fronts: Foreign Ministry  IRNA English

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 23, 08:09 PM
US, Iran and Pakistan say talks progressing towards agreement - Middle East Eye

US, Iran and Pakistan say talks progressing towards agreement  Middle East Eye

IndependentSouth China Morning PostMay 23, 07:39 PM
Iran, US could be close to breakthrough in talks for draft deal to end war

Senior US and Iranian officials said on Saturday they could be close to a breakthrough in talks to strike a draft deal to end the war in the Middle East. Iran said gaps remain between the parties, and the dispute over its nuclear programme would not be part of the initial talks. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism, just as Pakistan’s army chief, a key go-between between the United States and Iran, left Tehran after two days of talks with senior Iranian leaders. “There is a...

StateAnadolu AgencyMay 23, 07:32 PM
Pakistan confirms ‘encouraging progress’ towards ‘final understanding’ between US, Iran - Anadolu Ajansı

Pakistan confirms ‘encouraging progress’ towards ‘final understanding’ between US, Iran  Anadolu Ajansı

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 23, 07:22 PM
US, Iran and Pakistan say talks progressing towards a deal - Middle East Eye

US, Iran and Pakistan say talks progressing towards a deal  Middle East Eye

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 23, 07:18 PM
Are US and Iran close to a war-ending agreement? - Middle East Eye

Are US and Iran close to a war-ending agreement?  Middle East Eye

IndependentMiddle East EyeMay 23, 07:04 PM
Iran says framework for US war-ending deal nearing completion - Middle East Eye

Iran says framework for US war-ending deal nearing completion  Middle East Eye

StateAnadolu AgencyMay 23, 07:02 PM
Iran says finalizing memorandum of understanding with US - Anadolu Ajansı

Iran says finalizing memorandum of understanding with US  Anadolu Ajansı

IndependentStraits TimesMay 23, 06:45 PM
U.S. and Iran report progress on talks ending war, looking to next few days - The Straits Times

U.S. and Iran report progress on talks ending war, looking to next few days  The Straits Times

IndependentStraits TimesMay 23, 06:45 PM
US and Iran report progress on talks ending war, looking to next few days - The Straits Times

US and Iran report progress on talks ending war, looking to next few days  The Straits Times

StateAnadolu AgencyMay 23, 05:46 PM
Pakistan, Iran, Qatar 'finalizing' interim agreement with US to end Middle East war: Sources - Anadolu Ajansı

Pakistan, Iran, Qatar 'finalizing' interim agreement with US to end Middle East war: Sources  Anadolu Ajansı

PublicFrance 24May 23, 05:03 PM
Iran, US and Pakistan report progress in talks on ending war

Washington, Tehran and mediator Islamabad all said on Saturday that progress had been made on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran, with a Pakistani security official saying that a memorandum of understanding was being "fine-tuned".