FRANCE PERSPECTIVE

Paris, May 22, 2026. Pakistani diplomacy has inserted itself at the heart of the Iranian-American crisis: Chief of Staff Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday to pursue the mediation efforts that Islamabad has been conducting since the start of the conflict. A war triggered on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, and suspended by a partial ceasefire on April 8 — without any fundamental agreement having been concluded since.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke of a "slight progress" in the talks, praising Islamabad's involvement. "I think the Pakistanis are going to Tehran today. Let's hope it will move things forward," he said on Thursday to the press. But on the Iranian side, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei tempered any optimism: the visit does not mean "that we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation," and the disagreements between the two countries remain "deep and extensive".

For France 24, which covers the event from its two angles — military and diplomatic —, it's the entire global security architecture that is wobbling. The USS Abraham Lincoln maintains a "maximum availability" in the Arabian Sea, while US arms sales to Taiwan have been put "on hold" to preserve the ammunition needed for the ongoing operations, dubbed "Epic Fury". A decision that reveals the scope of the resources engaged by Washington in this conflict.

The Gordian knot remains the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has closed this crucial maritime route in retaliation for the February strikes. Iran poses as a prerequisite for any negotiation a ceasefire on all fronts — including the lifting of the US blockade of its ports. The European Union, faced with a major energy crisis since the closure of the Strait, is moving towards imposing sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for the blockade.

It is precisely on this issue that Rubio has raised the tone towards Europeans. Gathered in Helsingborg for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, the allies had to swallow the "disappointment" of Trump towards them. The US top diplomat asked them to consider a "Plan B" to force the reopening of the Hormuz if the war got stuck. The threat of Washington's withdrawal from NATO, associated with the abrupt withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany, weighs on already fragile Atlantic negotiations.

Pakistan, officially recognized as the sole mediator by Tehran — a Qatari delegation has also held talks with Araghchi — Islamabad is playing a risky card.