DW Iran war: Tehran warns US against ground assault Roshni Majumdar | Matt Ford | Louis Oelofse with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters Published 18 hours ago Published 18 hours ago last updated 32 minutes ago Iran says its forces are "waiting" for the arrival of US ground troops to "set them on fire." Meanwhile, Israel says it will further expand its "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon

  DW  

Iran war: Tehran warns US against ground assault

Roshni Majumdar | Matt Ford | Louis Oelofse with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters

Published 18 hours ago

Published 18 hours ago last updated 32 minutes ago

Iran says its forces are "waiting" for the arrival of US ground troops to "set them on fire." Meanwhile, Israel says it will further expand its "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon. DW has more.

https://p.dw.com/p/5BKG5

A view of the Qatari Al-Araby TV and business building damaged by a strike, as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues, in Tehran, Iran, March 29, 2026

US-Israeli strikes on Iran have been relentless for over a month, but now Tehran is warning against a ground offensiveImage: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/REUTERS

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

US plotting ground attack despite diplomatic efforts, says Iran parliament speaker

Pentagon preparing possible deployment of ground forces, The Washington Post reports, as first contingent of US Marines arrives in region

Israel plans to further expand its 'buffer zone' in southern Lebanon

Pakistan says it will be 'honored' to host talks between US and Iran soon

 Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem church for Palm Sunday Mass

Here are the developments in the US-Israel war with Iran on Sunday, March 29, 2026: 

Skip next section Iran's Khondab facility no longer operational, IAEA says

32 minutes ago32 minutes ago

Iran's Khondab facility no longer operational, IAEA says

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on X thatIran's heavy-water production plant at Khondab hit on March 27 sustained severe damage and was "no longer operational."

The IAEA added that Khondab "contains no declared nuclear material." The Israeli military had described the site as a "key plutonium production site for nuclear weapons" when it hit the facility on Friday. 

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Skip next section Iran reports power outages after attacks

1 hour ago

Iran reports power outages after attacks

Iran's Energy Ministry reported power outages in the capital Tehran and neighboring Alborz province on Sunday "following attacks on electricity industry facilities."

It said "electricity was cut off in these areas, and efforts are being made to resolve the problem," according to state television.

The Reuters news agency later cited Iran's Fars news agency as reporting power had been mostly restored.

US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to strike Iranian power stations if Tehran does not negotiate a peace deal before repeatedly extending a deadline to do so.

Trump's latest deadline is set to expire on April 6.

https://p.dw.com/p/5BLed

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Skip next section Israel carrying out strikes on Tehran, IDF says

2 hours ago

Israel carrying out strikes on Tehran, IDF says

The Israeli military said it was currently "striking" government targets in Tehran on Sunday night.

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Skip next section Pakistan 'honored' to host talks between US and Iran, foreign minister says

3 hours ago

Pakistan 'honored' to host talks between US and Iran, foreign minister says

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad will be "honored" to host talks between the US and Iran, amid efforts to deescalate the conflict.

Dar said he and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held several calls with Iranian senior officials including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The Pakistani officials were also "actively engaged" with Washington, he added.

"In this context, Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks," he said. "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."

Speaking in a televised speech after top diplomats from regional countries met in Islamabad (see entries below), Dar did not specify whether the talks would be direct or indirect. There was no immediate word from the US or Iran.

He said the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia endorsed Pakistan's peace efforts. The ministers are expected to meet again Monday.

Pakistan's mediation efforts were also supported by China and the United Nations, Dar said.

Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between the US and Iran. The South Asian country's leaders have close ties to both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Regional powers push for peace as Iran war continues

02:04

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Skip next section American University of Beirut moves classes online

3 hours ago

American University of Beirut moves classes online

The president of the American University of Beirut  said in a letter that the university in the heart of the Lebanese capital will be operating fully remotely on Monday and Tuesday "out of an abundance of caution."

President Fadlo Khuri said there was "no evidence of direct threats" to the prestigious university and its renowned hospital.

"The American University of Beirut has stood for the peaceful emancipation and progress of the people we educate and serve for more than a century and a half," Khuri said.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said it will target American and Israeli-affiliated universities in the Middle East in retaliation for recent attacks on two campuses in the Islamic Republic. 

Many universities in the region moved classes online since the Iran war began on February 28.

Who are Iran's Revolutionary Guards?

01:32

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Skip next section Israel will expand 'buffer zone' in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu says

4 hours ago4 hours ago

Israel will expand 'buffer zone' in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will widen the existing security "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon, as Israel continues its military activities in the country.

"I have ​just ‌instructed to further expand the existing security buffer zone. ‌We are determined to ‌fundamentally ​change the situation in the north," Netanyahu said on a visit to northern Israel. He added, "Hezbollah still has residual capability to fire rockets at us." 

The Israeli military chief of staff said Friday that troops would continue to operate in southern Lebanon "as long as necessary" to remove the threat of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. 

Buildings leveled in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 27, 2026Buildings leveled in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 27, 2026

Israeli strikes have devastated buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah strongholdImage: REUTERS

Lebanon was drawn into the broader Middle East conflict on March 2, when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel after the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an Israeli-US attack.

Israel has since carried out strikes across Lebanon, and last week launched a ground operation into the country as it aims to establish what it calls a buffer zone in the south.

At least 12 killed after Israel strikes central Beirut

02:08

The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. 

Over a million local residents have also been displaced.

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Skip next section Regional talks 'candid' and 'constructive,' says Pakistani FM

5 hours ago

Regional talks 'candid' and 'constructive,' says Pakistani FM

The Pakistani foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, took to X to share photos from quadrilateral talks hosted by Islamabad this morning.

Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt joined Dar for talks in the Pakistani capital to discuss ways to end the ongoing Iran war.

"Our candid and constructive discussions focus on the evolving regional situation and advancing peace and stability, while strengthening our partnership and deepening cooperation across diverse domains," Dar said.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry said the talks addressed efforts to stop the conflict from escalating, as well as encouraging "a negotiations track" between Tehran and Washington to prevent the region "slipping into a state of complete chaos."

Pakistan has been facilitating backchannel communication between the US and Iran in an effort to end the war.

The South Asian nation signed a defense treaty with Saudi Arabia last year. 

Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday hailed Saudi Arabia's "remarkable restraint" amid the ongoing conflict.

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Skip next section Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem church

5 hours ago5 hours ago

Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem church

Christians attend the service at Monastery of Saint Saviour to celebrate the feast of Palm Sunday in East Jerusalem on March 29, 2026Christians attend the service at Monastery of Saint Saviour to celebrate the feast of Palm Sunday in East Jerusalem on March 29, 2026

Police said they had rejected a request from the Patriarchate for a Palm Sunday exemption from the closure of all holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City – including those sacred to Christians, Muslims and ​JewsImage: Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO

The Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from marking Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre "for the first time in centuries," the Latin Patriarchate said.

Police prevented religious leaders, including Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the head of the Custos in the Holy Land, from celebrating Palm Sunday at the place where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.

"This incident is a grave precedent, and disregard (sic) the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who, during this week, look to Jerusalem," the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land said in a joint statement.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and launches the Week of Holy commemorations for Christians who follow the Latin calendar, which culminates in Easter next Sunday.

Israeli police said all holy sites ‌in Jerusalem's Old City had been closed to worshippers since the beginning of the war on Iran.

But the Latin Patriarchate said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been hosting masses that aren't open to the public since the Iran war began on Feb. 28, and it was unclear why access to Sunday's Mass was any different.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied any "malicious intent" behind the decision to deny the Catholic leaders entry.

"Today, out of special concern for his safety, Jerusalem police prevented the Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa from holding mass this morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre," the office said on X, adding that Israeli authorities were "putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days."