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Pakistan has become a key player in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between the US and Iran, hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan in Islamabad. The two-day consultations aim to align regional positions and prepare the ground for possible direct US-Iran engagement, with Pakistan acting as the central interlocutor between the two nations. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a 90-minute phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, focusing on de-escalation and trust-building measures. Pezeshkian stressed that confidence-building measures are required before Tehran can consider direct dialogue. The Islamabad meeting is not a negotiation, but rather preparation for potential talks. Its goals are to consolidate regional backing for de-escalation and harmonize positions on ceasefire sequencing. Iran has transmitted its response to the US proposal via Islamabad, with demands including an end to hostilities, reparations for damages, guarantees against future attacks, and recognition of its strategic leverage in the Strait of Hormuz. The next 48 to 72 hours will determine whether this diplomatic push produces a meeting between US and Iranian officials. If successful, it could provide the political cover both Washington and Tehran need to enter talks without appearing to concede.

Top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey have gathered in Islamabad for two-day talks with their Pakistani counterpart on the escalating conflict between the US and Israel against Iran. The goal is to seek a de-escalation of the situation.The talks, led by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, follow Iran's agreement to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, with two ships permitted daily. This development was announced by Dar on Saturday.Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a detailed telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, lasting over an hour, as part of preparations for the Islamabad talks. Sharif emphasized Pakistan's commitment to bringing an end to the conflict.Al Jazeera's Kamal Kyder, reporting from Islamabad, noted that Pakistan has been acting as a key interlocutor between the US and Iran, facilitating communication between the two sides as part of mediation efforts. He described the gathering in Islamabad as the beginning of a critical process that hinges on diplomacy and dialogue.The talks in Islamabad are seen as a crucial step towards finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Iran's President Pezeshkian has thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts to stop the aggression against Iran. With Islamabad's longstanding links with Tehran and close contacts in the Gulf, Pakistan is well-positioned to play a key role in these diplomatic efforts.Meanwhile, the risk of an expanded Iran war increased on Saturday as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels launched their first attacks on Israel since the start of the conflict. The developments underscore the complexity and volatility of the situation in the Middle East.

The Pentagon is gearing up for weeks of limited ground operations in Iran, potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials. These plans, which fall short of a full invasion, may involve special operations and conventional infantry troops.The operations would expose US personnel to Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire, and improvised explosives. The plans have been discussed within the administration over the past month, with objectives under consideration including the seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Gulf.According to officials, the objectives would likely take weeks, not months to complete. The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment, and Iran has yet to respond to the report.The developments come as Pakistan mediates between Washington and Tehran, hosting talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran is prepared to respond to any ground attack, stating that the enemy's plans for a ground attack are being met with readiness from Iranian forces.Iran's navy chief, Shahram Irani, also warned that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier would be targeted if it comes within range. The situation remains tense, with Iran posing a credible threat in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which lies between Yemen and Djibouti.

The US-Israel war on Iran has entered its 30th day, with diplomatic efforts intensifying to bring an end to the conflict. Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to hold talks in Islamabad, aimed at de-escalating the situation.The conflict has escalated across the Middle East, with Yemen's Houthis joining the war by firing missiles at Israel on Saturday. Tehran has threatened retaliatory attacks on Israeli and US universities in the region after the United States and Israel bombed Iranian universities.US-Israeli strikes have continued, with powerful explosions rocking Tehran on Sunday morning, killing two people and wounding five in a residential area. The Iranian Fars news agency reported that US-Israeli attacks also hit the Saadat Abad neighbourhood of northern Tehran and another residential area in the west of the capital.In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed 10 drones in the early hours of Sunday, while the UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defences responded to missiles and drone threats. Emirates Global Aluminium reported that an Iranian attack on Saturday inflicted significant damage on one of its sites in Abu Dhabi and wounded six employees.Iran's power has been underestimated, according to Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran. He said that one month into the war, Iran has proved that its power was underestimated by the enemy, who thought that the war would be a short excursion and that the country would capitulate after just a few days of bombardment.The conflict has also led to protests in Lebanon, with protesters taking to the streets in Beirut after Israeli forces killed journalists Fatima Ftouni and her brother and colleague, Mohammed, of Al Mayadeen, as well as Al-Manar's Ali Shuaib on Saturday.In Israel, people took to the streets in Tel Aviv, rallying against the war and increased settler violence, as they clashed with police. The Israeli military announced the death of a soldier, Moshe Yitzhak HaCohen Katz, in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel continue.The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said some 3,500 additional soldiers arrived in the Middle East on board the USS Tripoli. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, although Al Jazeera could not independently verify the report.

Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, has become a hub for diplomatic activity as key regional powers converge to address the escalating conflict between the US and Iran. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have arrived for talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The meetings aim to bring an end to the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has entered its 30th day and caused a global energy crisis. The conflict has led to a significant increase in tensions in the Middle East, with 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been choked by Iran. Pakistan is walking a diplomatic tightrope, with close defense ties to Saudi Arabia and cultural ties to Iran. The country is also home to the second-largest Shia population in the world after Iran. Analysts describe Pakistan's role as a 'very delicate balancing act' as it tries to bring the Americans and Iranians back to the negotiating table. The diplomatic push is driven by severe economic fears, with millions of Pakistani citizens potentially losing their jobs in the Gulf region if the conflict spreads. The stakes are existential for Islamabad, which risks a major crisis if energy supplies decline. Experts point out that the enormous economic costs borne by the Gulf countries have dropped drastically due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian drone and missile attacks have targeted energy and industrial facilities, forcing petroleum companies to declare force majeure on supply contracts. The Islamabad gathering serves as a foundational step for an 'Islamic alliance' designed to counter the Israeli project in the region, address geopolitical vacuums, and mitigate uncertainties surrounding future US involvement.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for conducting missile and drone attacks on aluminium facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to a statement carried by Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC targeted sites on Saturday that were allegedly linked to US military bases in the Gulf states.The attacks resulted in injuries to two employees at Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) and significant damage to one of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) sites in Abu Dhabi, with six people injured. The IRGC stated that the strikes were in retaliation for a US-Israeli attack on Iranian industrial infrastructure launched from military bases hosting US forces in the Gulf states.The attacks have raised concerns about the global aluminium supply, with estimates suggesting that between 4 to 9 percent of the global supply comes from this region. The escalation of attacks in the Middle East has led to increased tensions, with Saudi Arabia intercepting and destroying 10 drones and the Kuwaiti National Guard shooting down four drones.Analysts warn that if Iran continues to match attack for attack, the situation could become very concerning, potentially leading to further escalation in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The attacks have also prompted Oman's Foreign Ministry to condemn the attacks on its territory, with authorities investigating the sources and motives behind the assaults.

The southern Israeli city of Eilat came under attack by missiles, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region. The incident occurred on March 29, 2026, at 02:00:53.855689+00:00. Details about the attack, including casualties or damage, have not been provided.Eilat, a strategic port city on the Red Sea, has been a focal point in various regional conflicts. Missile strikes on the city could indicate a rise in hostilities or a new wave of aggression.The situation remains fluid, with authorities likely to investigate the incident and respond accordingly. The international community is closely monitoring developments in the region, given the historical significance and geopolitical importance of Eilat.

Recent air strikes on Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have resulted in the deaths of three PMF fighters and two Iraqi police officers. The attacks, which occurred near northern Iraq's Kirkuk Airport, also left two fighters wounded and six Iraqi soldiers injured.An Iraqi security source revealed that the double-bombing was part of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, which has been spilling over into Iraq's eastern border. The PMF, a coalition now integrated into the regular Iraqi army, accused the US and Israel of a 'treacherous Zionist-American' attack.In a separate incident, Reuters reported that two members of the Iraqi police were killed in an air strike targeting the PMF in Mosul, approximately 105 miles northwest of Kirkuk. This development has contributed to the escalating tensions in the region.Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque reported from Baghdad that Iraq is becoming an 'expanding battleground' in the crisis. The conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and now threatens to engulf the region in a protracted conflict.The PMF, formed in 2014 to fight ISIL (ISIS), has been targeted by pro-Iran armed groups within the coalition. These groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and beyond.Haque noted that the PMF takes its orders from Baghdad, but some factions are loyal to Tehran. This complex dynamic makes it challenging for Baghdad to manage the different factions effectively.Iraq finds itself 'on a tightrope' between the US and Iran, said Haque, due to its economic and security ties with both countries. The government must balance its relationships with its biggest neighbor, Iran, and the United States.In related incidents, two drones targeted an airbase serving as a hub for US and coalition forces near Erbil airport in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The US C-RAM air defence system successfully intercepted the drones.French President Emmanuel Macron described the increased attacks in Iraq as a 'worrying development' after speaking to Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdish region.

Demonstrators took to the streets of cities across the United States for the first 'No Kings' protest since the joint US and Israeli war against Iran began one month ago. The protests, which mark the third round of nationwide 'No Kings' demonstrations, saw over 3,300 events planned across all 50 states, with large crowds expected in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.The main event was scheduled for the Minneapolis-St Paul area in Minnesota, known as the Twin Cities, which became a focal point for Trump's hardline immigration crackdown in December. More than 3,000 federal immigration agents descended on the Twin Cities, leading to accusations of excessive force during deportation raids.In January, agents shot and killed two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, prompting nationwide outrage and calls for reform. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed as a result of the operation, which was wound down in February.Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders addressed attendees, and rock icon Bruce Springsteen performed at the event, along with folk singer Joan Baez. Actor Robert De Niro told the crowd in Minnesota in a pre-recorded address, 'You've shown bravery in the face of armed attack by government thugs, and you stood together and ran them out of town'.The previous two 'No Kings' marches took place in June and October and drew millions of people. Trump responded to the October protest by posting an AI-generated video depicting himself dumping faeces on the protesters. The US is currently in the midst of campaigns for its pivotal midterm elections in November, which will see Trump's Republican Party seek to defend its majorities in both chambers of Congress.Democrats are hoping to gain seats as Trump's popularity droops. Sanders was among the speakers who reminded protest attendees of the importance of the upcoming vote, saying, 'We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy. In America, we the people will rule'.