Pakistan prepared to host U.S.-Iran talks in ‘coming days’ as Trump weighs deploying ground troops
PUBLISHED SUN, MAR 29 2026
KEY POINTS
• Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said both the U.S. and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to hold talks in the coming days aimed at ending the war.
• U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a potential ground conflict in Iran as thousands of U.S. troops arrive in the region.
• Iran has threatened U.S. and Israeli educational institutions in West Asia following a strike on a Tehran university.
• An Iranian attack on a Bahrain aluminum smelter threatens to pressure global supplies.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Sunday that both the U.S. and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to hold talks in the coming days aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.
In a statement following a meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, Dar saidPakistan is engaging with the U.S. to find an end to the conflict, and that “both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks.
“Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days, for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,” Dar said.
It is unclear whether the U.S. and Iran had agreed to any formal talks with Pakistan. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
The foreign ministers from the four Middle East nations met in Pakistan to discuss the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, as U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly weighs deploying ground troops into the conflict that is now stretching into its second month.
Trump, meanwhile, is reportedly weighing the deployment of U.S. ground troops into the conflict as Iran holds the Strait of Hormuz largely closed — sending shockwaves through the markets and spiking oil and gasoline prices.
The Washington Post reported Saturday night that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of potential ground conflict in Iran as thousands of U.S. troops arrive in the region. It’s unclear if Trump will green-light the operations, as he claims that the war effort is both winding down while threatening to escalate the conflict.
Lawmakers, who just left Washington for a two-week recess, on Sunday expressed some hesitation about a potential full-scale invasion of Iran with U.S. forces.But top Republicans appeared to give Trump partial approval for some use of U.S. ground troops.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that his support for the use of ground troops “depends on what boots we’re putting on the ground,” arguing that the use of special forces units for specific goals is different than a longstanding occupation and ground war, which he said would require congressional authorization.
“If we had a long-standing war that’s happening, go back again to what happened in Iraq or in Afghanistan, yes,” Lankford said on congressional approval. “If this is to protect Americans and to be able to make sure that we’re in there for a season and we’re stopping and getting out, that’s very, very different. So again, this is all contingent.”
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Sunday warned that Iranian troops “are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” the Associated Pressreported, citing state media.
Egypt says meetings aim for ‘direct dialogue’
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the meetings in Pakistan are aimed at opening a “direct dialogue” between the U.S. and Iran, which have largely communicated through mediators. The war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes during indirect talks. Pakistan said the foreign ministers met Sunday without U.S. or Israeli participation.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/29/bahrain-aluminum-giant-says-iranian-attack-targeted-its-facilit.html