U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that negotiations with Iran had made “slight progress,” offering a cautious signal that diplomacy remains active as Pakistan, Qatar and Gulf governments try to prevent the U.S.-Iran war from resuming.

Rubio made the remarks on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, where allies were also discussing what role the alliance might play in helping secure the Strait of Hormuz if the war ends. The waterway has become one of the central obstacles in the talks, with Iran’s effective closure of the strait and U.S. pressure on Iranian ports adding urgency to efforts to reach a broader political arrangement.

The comments came days after President Donald Trump said he was holding off on a military strike against Iran because “serious negotiations” were underway. Trump has repeatedly warned that the mid-April ceasefire could collapse if Tehran does not reach a deal, but he has also allowed mediators more time as regional allies press Washington to avoid another round of fighting.

Rubio was careful not to describe the talks as close to success. According to The Associated Press, he said there had been “a little bit of movement and that’s good,” while cautioning that previous claims of progress have not produced an agreement. Reuters separately reported that Rubio said there were “some good signs,” but added that he did not want to be “overly optimistic.”

The most visible new diplomatic push came from Pakistan. Pakistani officials and the military said Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s top army officer, arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian leaders. Pakistan has served as the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran since the conflict began, and Munir’s visit marked another attempt to turn the ceasefire into a more durable agreement.

Pakistan’s interior minister has also been involved in the talks, meeting Iranian officials in Tehran twice this week. The renewed effort follows earlier face-to-face discussions between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad. U.S. officials have continued to describe Pakistan as the main interlocutor, even as other regional players become more active.

Qatar has also re-entered the mediation track. Reuters reported Friday that a Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran in coordination with the United States to help secure a deal that would end the war and address unresolved issues. The move is notable because Doha had previously kept some distance from a mediation role after being hit by Iranian missiles and drones during the conflict.

Qatar is a major U.S. non-NATO ally and hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East. Its return to diplomacy reflects both its relationship with Washington and its history as a back-channel to Tehran. Rubio said Friday that the United States speaks with Gulf countries because they have direct interests in the conflict, while emphasizing that Pakistan remains the principal country Washington has been working with.

The talks remain centered on difficult issues. Reuters reported that Iran’s uranium enrichment and its control over the Strait of Hormuz are among the remaining sticking points. The strait is a vital route for oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other petroleum products. Before the war, a substantial share of global LNG trade moved through the waterway, especially from Qatar.

The Hormuz dispute has become a test of whether a ceasefire can become a broader settlement. Rubio said Thursday that a diplomatic deal would be unfeasible if Iran pursued a tolling system in the strait, calling such a move unacceptable, illegal and a threat to the world. The U.S. position has been that free navigation through the waterway must be restored and protected.

At the NATO meeting, Rubio said allies discussed reopening the strait and the need for a “plan B” if Washington and Tehran fail to reach a deal. That discussion places the Iran talks squarely within the security agenda of U.S. allies, even though the conflict is centered in the Middle East. A prolonged disruption could affect energy markets, shipping routes and allied defense planning beyond the region.

Gulf governments are also pressing for a political settlement that goes beyond a temporary halt in fighting. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, said Friday at the Globsec conference in Prague that there was a “50-50 chance” of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement. He warned that another round of military confrontation would complicate the crisis and said talks that focus only on a ceasefire could lay the groundwork for future conflict.

The UAE has its own direct stake in the outcome. Reuters reported that Emirati officials say Iran has repeatedly targeted the country during the conflict, including strikes on civilian infrastructure and areas near U.S. military facilities. Gargash said the Strait of Hormuz should return to its pre-war status as an international waterway guaranteeing the free flow of energy, trade and maritime traffic.

For Washington, the stakes combine nuclear policy, regional deterrence and the risk of wider war. The United States is seeking limits on Iran’s nuclear program, while Tehran is pressing for relief from pressure and greater assurances that hostilities will end. The conflict has also strained U.S. coordination with allies and partners who support containing Iran but fear that renewed strikes could produce a wider regional escalation.

The uncertainty is heightened by Trump’s shifting approach to deadlines and military threats. AP reported that the president has set deadlines for Tehran and then backed off, while also previously indicating he would let talks continue before ordering strikes earlier in the conflict. That history has made the current pause in military action difficult to interpret: it may give diplomacy a chance, but it does not eliminate the threat of renewed force.

For now, the administration’s public message is one of cautious movement rather than breakthrough. Rubio’s “slight progress” language leaves room for continued talks while preparing allies and regional partners for the possibility that negotiations stall. With Pakistan and Qatar in Tehran, Gulf officials warning against another escalation, and NATO allies weighing maritime security options, the coming days are likely to determine whether the ceasefire becomes a diplomatic opening or another pause before renewed war.