Iran’s Supreme Leader thanks Iraq’s religious leadership for support - report

Pakistan said on Sunday it had hosted foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt in Islamabad for a second round of consultations.

“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,” Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar said in a post on X.

The countries discussed proposals tied to maritime traffic and restoring flows through the strategic waterway, the report said citing five sources familiar with the matter.

The report cited a source from Pakistan as saying proposals, including from Egypt, had been forwarded to ⁠the White House by Pakistan before Sunday's meeting and they included Suez ‌Canal-style fee structures.

Turkey, Egypt ​and Saudi Arabia could form a consortium to manage oil flows through the waterway, and had asked Pakistan to participate, the report added citing two other Pakistani sources.

The proposal for a management consortium had been discussed with the US and Iran, the report said, citing the sources. It added, citing the first Pakistani source, that army chief Asim Munir had been in regular contact with US Vice President JD Vance.

The report cited a Turkish diplomatic source as saying that Ankara’s priority was securing a ceasefire.

“Ensuring the safe passage of ships could serve as an important confidence-building measure in this regard,” the source said, according to the report.

The American University of Beirut said it would move to remote learning for two days following threats by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to target American universities in the region.

“At this time, we have no evidence of direct threats against our university, its campuses or medical centres. At the same time, out of an abundance of caution, we will operate fully online on Monday and Tuesday, with the exception of essential personnel,” AUB President Fadlo Khouri said in a statement.

Earlier on Sunday, the IRGC threatened to target American universities in the Middle East after saying US-Israeli strikes had destroyed two Iranian universities.

Qatar condemned an attack targeting the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Iraq’s Duhok governorate, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the State of Qatar's firm stance against violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of their motives or justifications,” the ministry said.

“The Ministry affirms the State of Qatar's categorical rejection of all acts that threaten security and stability in the brotherly Republic of Iraq,” it added.

Two India-bound LPG tankers carrying about 94,000 metric tons of cooking gas have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz and are heading to India, the government said on Sunday.

India’s petroleum ministry said BW Tyr and BW Elm are due to arrive in Mumbai on March 31 and New Mangalore on April 1. The ministry added that port operations across India remain normal.

The shipments come despite severe disruption to traffic through the waterway.

Four LPG tankers have already completed the crossing, while three more are still in the western section of the strait, LSEG ship tracking data showed on Friday.

India said 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region.