US-Israel-Iran War News highlights: The US-Israel war on Iran has now entered its second month and continues to spread across the Middle East. Thousands of people have been killed and there are reports that the US is preparing for a weeks-long ground operation in Iran.
Here are the key developments on March 29, 2026.
- Pakistan Iran-US talks proposal moves forward as Ishaq Dar says both Tehran and Washington trust Islamabad’s role, with China backing efforts to ease tensions
- An industrial facility in Israel’s southern Negev desert caught fire after being struck in Iran’s latest round of attacks. No casualties were reported
- Iran said the carrier strike group would face coastal missile strikes if it entered Iran’s operational range, describing it as retaliation for the “Dena martyrs”
- Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated his charge that the United States is publicly signalling negotiations while privately preparing for a ground offensive
- Iran on Saturday claimed that the US has suffered “heavy casualties” in strikes against two US Army “hideouts” in Dubai — housing over 500 military personnel according to state media
- Dozens of US soldiers were also injured in Saudi Arabia after Iranian missiles were fired at the Prince Sultan Air Base.
- The Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen have ‘joined’ the war — launching their first strikes against Israel on Saturday and vowing to continue their operations until the “aggression” on all fronts ended.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that trust is needed to facilitate diplomatic talks and mediation on the conflict in the Middle East, as per reports. Sharif briefed Pezeshkian on Pakistan’s diplomatic contacts with the United States and Gulf states to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation.
- Iranian Red Crescent says more than 92,600 civilian units have been damaged across the country in US-Israeli attacks
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expected the war with Iran would continue for another two to four weeks: ABC Report
- Multiple drone attacks have struck Kuwait International Airport, causing “significant” damage to its radar systems, says Kuwait’s Kuwait News Agency
- Trump at the FII Summit in Miami: “It’s not finished yet. I’m not saying, it’s sort of finished, but it’s not finished. It’s got to be finished.
READ ALL THE LATEST UPDATES ON IRAN WAR.
Pakistan says Iran, US back its role as mediator in war talks
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday said both Iran and the United States have expressed confidence in Islamabad’s potential role as a facilitator for talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
Dar added that China has backed Pakistan’s proposal to host discussions between Tehran and Washington, indicating wider diplomatic support for the initiative amid escalating regional tensions.
The foreign minister said he briefed ministers and delegates on plans to hold possible Iran–US talks in Islamabad, outlining the framework and ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
“We discussed possible ways to bring an early and permanent end to the war in the region,” Dar said.
High-level talks in Islamabad as Pakistan, Saudi discuss Iran war
High-level diplomatic activity has intensified in Islamabad amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The visit is part of a wider effort involving Turkiye and Egypt to de-escalate the conflict. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and praised its restraint during the crisis.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s role in facilitating backchannel communication between the United States and Iran, stressing the need for unity within the Islamic world.
Talks are set to continue through Monday.
Nearly 1,000 protesters rally in Istanbul against Iran, Gaza wars
Nearly 1,000 people gathered in central Istanbul on Sunday despite heavy rain to protest the ongoing conflicts in Iran, Lebanon and Palestine.
The demonstration, organised by several conservative religious NGOs, saw participants raise slogans such as “Resist, Gaza will prevail” and “Muslims don’t bow to oppression,” while also holding placards condemning Israel and the United States and criticising the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Protesters said the rally was aimed at expressing solidarity with people affected by conflicts across regions. “We are here for all the oppressed in the world: Lebanon, Iran, Palestine. Yesterday it was Venezuela. Tomorrow it will probably be Cuba,” said one participant.
Some demonstrators also drew comparisons between public responses in Iran and Israel amid the ongoing conflict. “When Iran launches a missile… they rush to shelters. But Iranians take to the streets. This is about belief and faith,” another protester said.
Iran says it targeted US forces at air base in Jordan
The Iranian military has said it carried out a drone strike targeting US forces stationed in Jordan.
According to the ISNA news agency, Iranian drones hit living quarters and military equipment at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, which hosts US personnel.
The military described the base as a key operational hub used to launch air strikes against Iran, justifying the attack as part of its ongoing response in the conflict.
Jeffrey Sachs says BRICS failed to intervene effectively in West Asia talks
Top American economist and foreign policy expert Prof Jeffrey D. Sachs has said BRICS nations could have played a more decisive role in mediating the ongoing West Asia conflict but failed to do so effectively.
Speaking to ANI, Sachs described the situation as a “lost opportunity” for the grouping. He also termed the current dynamics “bizarre”, especially in light of reports suggesting Pakistan may be involved in mediation efforts.
“Frankly, I see it as bizarre. And I see it as a lost opportunity of the BRICS countries because India has the presidency of BRICS. It can speak to Mr Trump,” Sachs said.
Four LPG tankers cross Hormuz, three more await transit
Two India-bound LPG tankers carrying about 94,000 metric tonnes of cooking gas have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are now en route to India, the government said.
The vessels are expected to reach Mumbai later this week, according to a statement from the Petroleum Ministry.
They are among the latest Indian-flagged ships to transit the strategic chokepoint. So far, four LPG tankers have completed the crossing, while three others remain in the western section of the strait, as per LSEG ship-tracking data on Friday.
The government added that 18 Indian-flagged vessels, with 485 Indian seafarers on board, are currently in the western Gulf region.
Iran says it will target USS Abraham Lincoln carrier if it moves within range
Iran’s Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, has warned that the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln could be targeted following the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, according to Tehran Times.
Irani said the carrier strike group would face coastal missile strikes if it entered Iran’s operational range, describing it as retaliation for the “Dena martyrs”. He added that Iranian forces are closely monitoring the group’s movements and engagements with regional countries in real time.
He also asserted that the eastern Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman remain under full Iranian naval control, underscoring Tehran’s strategic grip over key maritime routes.
The IRIS Dena was sunk while returning from the Milan multilateral naval exercise hosted by India. At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in the attack.
A Moudge-class frigate, the Dena was among Iran’s more advanced warships, equipped with surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, heavy guns, and a helicopter for extended naval operations.
Over 2000 people killed in Iran so far
Iran’s Health Ministry has reported a sharp rise in casualties from the ongoing conflict, with more than 2,000 people killed and tens of thousands injured.
According to the latest official figures, 2,076 people have been killed, including 216 children, while 26,500 have been injured, among them 1,767 children. The ministry also said that 336 health and emergency centres have been damaged in the attacks, highlighting the strain on the country’s medical infrastructure.
Araghchi urges global action as regional talks begin in Islamabad
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States and Israel of undermining international law during a call with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
In a post shared by the Iranian government on X, Araghchi said continued US and Israeli strikes on Iran, including attacks on infrastructure, schools and hospitals, reflected an “erosion of international law” and urged regional and global actors to act.
His remarks come as foreign ministers from Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia meet in Islamabad in an effort to de-escalate tensions.
Iran says US failed war goals, now pushing 15-point agenda
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has sharply criticised the United States, accusing Washington of pursuing a dual strategy of diplomacy and covert military escalation amid the ongoing conflict.
In a statement, Ghalibaf claimed that former US President Donald Trump had envisioned the collapse of Iran, but key objectives remain unfulfilled. He said attempts to reopen a strategic strait disrupted during the conflict have not succeeded, describing it as an “unfulfilled operational wish”.
He also asserted that global energy markets are now “out of control” and alleged that symbols of US military strength, including advanced fighter jets and aircraft carriers, have suffered significant damage during the conflict.
Ghalibaf reiterated his charge that the United States is publicly signalling negotiations while privately preparing for a ground offensive. He further said Washington is advancing a 15-point agenda to secure outcomes it could not achieve through military action.
Warning of potential escalation, the Iranian leader added that Iranian forces are prepared for the possible entry of US ground troops, signalling readiness for a wider confrontation.
Pope Leo XIV denounces war, says faith cannot be used to justify violence
Pope Leo XIV, addressing tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday Mass, rejected claims that religion can be used to justify war.
With the US-Israel conflict with Iran entering its fifth week and Russia’s war in Ukraine ongoing, the Pope used his homily to emphasise that faith stands against violence and offers solace to the oppressed.
“Jesus, King of Peace, rejects war, and no one can use Him to justify it,” Leo said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”
His remarks come as leaders on multiple sides of current conflicts have invoked religion to defend military action. In the US, some officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have framed the war in religious terms, while Russia’s Orthodox Church has described the invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war” against a morally degraded West.
US ‘signals talks, plans attack’: Iran's Parliament Speaker claims
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has accused the United States of pursuing a dual strategy of diplomacy and covert military planning amid the ongoing conflict, according to a message carried by state media.
In remarks marking 30 days since the start of the US-Israeli war, Ghalibaf said Washington was publicly signalling openness to negotiations while allegedly preparing for a ground offensive. “The enemy openly sends a message of negotiation and secretly plans a ground attack,” he said in a statement published by the Tasnim news agency.
He further claimed that the United States was advancing its objectives through a set of demands while attempting to secure outcomes it had not achieved through military action. “The United States expresses its desires with a list of 15 points and pursues what it did not achieve in the war,” he said.
Ghalibaf described the situation as part of a broader global conflict, warning of a prolonged and difficult path ahead. “We are in a major world war, and we must prepare ourselves for the tortuous and difficult path ahead of us until we reach the summit,” he added.
Compensation, sanctions relief key to peace talks, says Iran
Iran has not initiated the ongoing conflict and has suffered “significant losses” in terms of casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said.
She said compensation would be a key demand in any future negotiations, alongside issues such as control over the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of sanctions.
“We are willing to move towards a sustainable peace,” Mohajerani added.
'Our men are waiting for American soldiers to set them on fire': Iran Parliament Speaker
Iranian Parliament’s Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Iranian forces are ready for the arrival of US troops.
"The enemy is openly sending a message of negotiation and secretly planning a ground attack. Our men are waiting for the arrival of American soldiers on the ground to set them on fire," the IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad --- with both sides calling for dialogue and diplomacy to ease tensions in the Middle East.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides emphasised the need for de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and closer coordination to promote peace and stability in the region.
Iran warns of US-Israeli plans to expand conflict, cites risk of 'false-flag ops"
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that the United States and Israel may seek to widen the scope of the ongoing conflict by drawing in other countries or staging "false-flag operations", according to the Iranian media, Press TV. Araghchi made the remarks during a phone call with his Greek counterpart, Georgios Gerapetritis.
What do we know about strikes against UAE's Emirates Global Aluminium?
The region’s top producer, Emirates Global Aluminium has said that it sustained “significant damage” at its site in Abu Dhabi. EGA confirmed in a statement that several employees were injured after missiles struck its Al Taweelah site --- located at the Khalifa Port industrial zone in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The company said it is still assessing damage from the attack but declined to say whether operations at the facility had been suspended.
IRGC claims responsibility as Aluminium Bahrain confirms strike impact
on Saturday,
According to a statement reported by the Bahrain News Agency, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has confirmed that its industrial facility was targeted in an Iranian attack. It said in a statement that two employees sustained minor injuries. The company is currently assessing the extent of damage to its facilities.
This development comes soon after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting key industrial facilities in the region --- including aluminium plants in the UAE and Bahrain
The IRGC said its Aerospace and Naval forces carried out a "combined and targeted operation" using missiles and drones against what it described as industries linked to the US military and aerospace sector. The targets named included the Emirates Global Aluminium (EMAL) facility in the United Arab Emirates and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) in Bahrain.
'No radiation release reported': IAEA after strikes near Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
The IAEA said it was informed by Iran of a new strike in the area of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant--- the third such incident in 10 days --- on Saturday.
"No damage to operating reactor nor any radiation release reported, and condition of plant is normal," it cited Iran as saying.
The nuclear watchdog has voiced "deep concern" about recent reports of military activity in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant. Director General Rafael Grossi warned that it could cause a major radiological incident if the reactor were to be damaged. He also reiterated calls for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.
Saudi Arabia intercepts 10 drones
The Saudi Defence Ministry said it had destroyed 10 drones over the past few hours.
This comes soon after Kuwaiti authorities said they had shot down at least four drones. Sirens also sounded across Bahrain and other Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office also shared earlier on Sunday morning that its air defences had intercepted projectiles, causing loud sounds heard across parts of the city.
Air strikes hit PMF sites in Iraq
According to an Al Jazeera update, air strikes have targeted sites belonging to Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces in two locations.
An Iraqi police source told the publication that a strike hit a PMF site in the Rashidiya area of Mosul in northern Iraq. A separate source in the PMF media office told Al Jazeera that another air strike targeted one of its headquarters in the Tuz Khurmatu district in Salah ad-Din province.
India cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 this week - How does it impact prices?
Pakistan has said Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will send top diplomats to Islamabad for talks aimed at ending the war, arriving Sunday for a two-day visit. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held “extensive discussions” on regional hostilities.
But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Turkish counterpart by phone that Tehran was sceptical about recent diplomatic efforts. Iranian state-run media said Araghchi accused the U.S. of making “unreasonable demands” and exhibiting “contradictory actions.”
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar later spoke with Araghchi and urged “an end to all attacks and hostilities.”
According to reports, Iran has conveyed conditional consent for mediation with the United States through Pakistan. This comes ahead of a planned meeting between multiple leaders in Islamabad on Sunday.
CNN-News18 cited top diplomatic sources to add that the proposed mediation process is likely to be discussed during today's meeting. It is being seen as a significant development that could pave the way for a temporary ceasefire or pause in hostilities.
Heavy strikes reported across Tehran
Massive explosions rang out across the Iranian capital early on Sunday morning --- but it was not immediately clear what had been struck. Witnesses told AP that the strikes were almost continuous for over two hours. Smoke was reportedly seen rising to the north of the capital. and Iranian media said 12 people were wounded in an earlier attack.
The Israeli military said it had completed a “wave of strikes” across Tehran targeting government infrastructure. According to reports, the IDF strikes damaged residential areas, civilian infrastructure, and research and educational buildings. The IDF also said it had hit Iran’s headquarters for naval weaponry.
Hezbollah claims attacks on northern Israel
Issuing multiple statements, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah claimed attack on northern Israel. It said its members targeted the town of Metula with a rocket at 5 am and the village of Shtul at 6:20 am. It also claimed to have been behind a drone attack on the Rawiya base and rocket attacks in the Ghajar village at 6:25 am.
Explosions heard in Tehran: Reports
Several explosions were heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday, according to the state-affiliated Fars news agency. The AFP also reported that two explosions sent shockwaves through northern Tehran at about 7:20 am as air defences operated. More details are awaited.
Kuwait shoots down 4 drones
The Kuwaiti National Guard said its troops shot down four drones after air raid sirens were heard in the Gulf nation for a second time within a few hours.
Israeli soldier killed in Lebanon
The Israeli military said a soldier has been killed in combat in southern Lebanon. The military added that three other soldiers were wounded in the combat.
Air defenses intercept missiles and drones across Gulf countries
Air defenses in Kuwait are currently intercepting missiles and drones, the UAE information ministry said early Sunday.
Meanwhile, sirens sounded across Bahrain, the interior ministry said on social media. Earlier, the Dubai Media Office said air defenses intercepted projectiles, causing loud sounds heard across parts of the city.