Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdellatty, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Turkey’s Hakan Fidan meet to discuss regional tensions amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan on March 29, 2026.
Turkish Foreign Ministry via reuters
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday said both the US and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to hold talks in the coming days with the aim of ending the US-Israeli war in Iran.
one in statement After a meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, Dar said that Pakistan is in talks with the US to end the conflict, and “both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks.
“It will be an honor for Pakistan to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting solution to the ongoing conflict,” Dar said.
It is not clear whether the US and Iran had agreed to any formal talks with Pakistan. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
The foreign ministers of four Middle East countries met in Pakistan on Sunday to discuss the US and Israeli war on Iran, as US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering deploying ground troops in the conflict now stretching into its second month.
Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly considering deploying US ground troops into the conflict as Iran largely closes the Strait of Hormuz – sending shockwaves through markets and sending oil and gasoline prices soaring.
Washington Post The Pentagon has been preparing for weeks for a possible ground conflict in Iran as thousands of US troops arrive in the region, reports Saturday night said. It is unclear whether Trump will greenlight the operations, as he claims the war effort is diminishing and also threatens to escalate the conflict.
Lawmakers, who recently left Washington for a two-week recess, expressed some hesitation on Sunday about a possible full-scale invasion of Iran with U.S. military force. But top Republicans appeared to be giving Trump partial approval for some use of US ground troops.
Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that his support for the use of ground troops “depends on what boots on the ground we are putting,” arguing that the use of special forces units for specific targets is different from long-standing occupation and ground warfare, which he said would require congressional authorization.
On congressional approval, Lankford said, “If we’re going to have a prolonged war, let’s look at what happened in Iraq or Afghanistan.” “If it’s for the safety of Americans and being able to make sure that we’re there for a season and we’re staying and getting out, that’s very, very different. So again, it’s all contingent.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Iranian troops are “waiting for US troops to arrive on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional allies forever.” The Associated Press The report cited state media.
So far 13 American service members have been killed in this conflict. Deploying ground troops to Iran would increase the level of threat to American troops.
Aluminum manufacturing company got a shock
Aluminum Bahrain, which hosts the largest smelter of the metal in the world, said on Sunday that its facility had been hit by an Iranian attack.
Company, known as Alba said in a statement Let us tell you that this attack took place on Saturday.
“Alba is assessing the extent of damage to its facilities and is focused on maintaining its operational resiliency and the safety of its employees,” Alba said.
“As an operational measure to maintain business continuity amid the supply and transit disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, the company has cut production capacity by 19% of its 1.6 million tonnes annual output,” the company said on March 15.
Fears of a global shortage of the metal are increasing due to production cuts. Aluminum prices hit a four-year high earlier this month, but some of those gains have been pared back. They remain 4.3% above their February 27 level.
Although aluminum may be the most abundant metal on Earth, it is vital to the functioning of the world economy. It is an essential material in electronics, transportation and construction, as well as other industries such as solar panels and packaging.
LME Aluminum
Iran is retaliating against the US and Israeli attacks that began on February 28 by firing missiles and drones at its regional neighbors.
The United Arab Emirates said this on Sunday air defense Were dealing with the latest salvo of incoming missiles.
Houthis enter the field
On Saturday, Iran-backed Houthi fighters said they launched a missile attack against Israel, the first time the group has taken part in the war.
Analysts have told CNBC that the Houthis could attempt to block maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, separating the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa – through which ships must pass to reach the Red Sea and the Suez Canal – increasing pressure on global trade.
On Saturday, Danish shipping giant Maersk, widely considered a barometer of global trade, responded to reports of drone activity and explosions at the port of Salalah in Oman.
Bab el-Mandeb Strait was estimated Seaborne oil trade will account for 12% and liquefied natural gas trade will account for 8% in the first half of 2023.
Iranian forces have already effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply passed before the war.
Oil prices closed at their highest level in more than three years on Friday, as President Donald Trump’s move toward negotiations with Iran failed to ease market fears about massive supply disruptions in the Middle East.
US crude oil prices closed 5.46% higher at $99.64 per barrel. International benchmark Brent crude prices closed 4.22% higher at $112.57.
Trump’s move to give Iran a 10-day extension to open the strategically important strait failed to calm supply concerns. The president said in a social media post Thursday that negotiations with Iran were going “very well,” despite “misrepresentations from the fake news media and others.” Iran says it has not participated in any talks.
As part of the announcement, the US President said he would halt attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure until April 6.
Meanwhile, the growing US military presence in the Gulf has raised fears of a ground invasion, potentially leading to war and increasing uncertainty for the global economy.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, made up of about 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, US Central Command confirmed.
“U.S. sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of ​​responsibility on March 27,” according to a statement. Posted on x.
on Sunday, Iran Threats were made to target American and Israeli educational institutions Iranian media quoted its armed forces as saying that no action would be taken in the region until the US condemned the attacks on Iranian universities. He posted pictures of Damage to University of Science and Technology in Tehran, for which it blamed American attacks.
The death toll is continuously increasing
In Lebanon, officials said more than 1,200 people have been killed. More deaths were feared after Netanyahu, speaking on a visit to northern Israel, said Israel was “determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north”. He added that Hezbollah “still has the residual capability to fire rockets at us.”
Iranian officials say more than 1,900 people have been killed in the Islamic republic, while 19 people are reported dead in Israel.
In Iraq, where Iran-backed militia groups have joined the conflict, 80 members of security forces have been killed.
20 people have died in the Gulf states. Four people have been killed in the occupied West Bank.
Thirteen American service members have been killed in the battle.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report
