A regional mediation push led by Pakistan aims to narrow ​differences between Iran and the US after weeks of war that ​have left the vital waterway of the Strait of Hormuz ⁠closed to most shipping despite a nervous ceasefire, upending global energy ​markets.

Iranian state media reported that Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had also met President Masoud Pezeshkian ​in the presence of Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, with whom he had two meetings, before flying out.

The talks reportedly centred on a 14-point document proposed by Iran, which ​it considers the main framework for the discussions, and messages exchanged ​between the two sides.

Ghalibaf said Iran would pursue its “legitimate rights”, both on the battlefield ‌and ⁠through diplomacy, but added that it could not trust “a party that has no honesty at all”, an allegation Iran has made several times before.

He said Iran’s armed forces had rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire and ​that, if the United ​States “foolishly restarts ⁠the war”, the consequences would be “more forceful and bitter” than at the start of the conflict.

US Secretary of State ​Marco Rubio said on Friday that the US ​has seen ⁠some progress towards a deal but that more work was required, while Iran’s foreign ministry said the differences remained deep and significant.

Despite weeks of conflict, Iran ⁠has ​preserved its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium ​as well as missile, drone and proxy capabilities that the United States and Israel say they ​aim to curb.