GREECE PERSPECTIVE

Athens, May 22, 2026. A draft agreement between Washington and Tehran, whose outlines were revealed by Arab sources cited by Al Arabiya, has been circulating in capitals since May 22. Greek media, led by Greek Reporter and Protothema, have quickly relayed the key points of a nine-point text that could, if ratified, redraw the security balance in the Middle East and beyond.

The draft provides for an immediate, complete, and unconditional ceasefire on all fronts – land, sea, and air – accompanied by a mutual commitment not to target military, civilian, or economic infrastructure. The clause deemed crucial by Greek economic circles concerns the guarantee of freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman. Since February 28, the date on which the war broke out according to Greek sources, the Strait has been effectively closed to most global maritime traffic, directly impacting European energy supply costs.

The text also includes the creation of a joint monitoring and dispute resolution mechanism, the opening of negotiations on outstanding issues within seven days of the agreement's entry into force, and a gradual lifting of US sanctions in exchange for Iran's compliance. The entire package is framed within international law and the UN Charter.

Pakistan plays the central mediating role in this process. Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's Interior Minister, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Tehran, two days after submitting the final US proposal to Islamabad, according to semi-official agencies Tasnim and ISNA. The visit of Pakistan's Chief of Staff Asim Munir to Tehran has reinforced this diplomatic channel.

From the US side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism to journalists: "There are good signs. I don't want to be too optimistic. Let's see what happens in the next few days." Rubio, however, explicitly stated that no agreement would be possible if Tehran maintains a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump, from the Oval Office, escalated the nuclear issue, stating that he would have to "do something very drastic" if Iran refuses to guarantee it will not acquire nuclear arms, adding: "We'll get it. We don't need it, we don't want it."