This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up on Friday’s top developments here:

  • No negotiations happening with Iran right now: White House 
  • Iran warns Washington that pressure 'doesn't work'
  • Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia discuss regional developments
  • Iran urges states not to become complicit in US ‘economic terrorism’
  • US to set limits on Egyptian bank in effort to pressure Iran


Friday at a glance

Published: Aug 29, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk


Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan late on Friday called for a united Muslim world, stating that “pinning our hopes on others will get us nowhere.”

He said that the Muslim world wanted to march towards the future together and all the endeavors were for the sake of constructing an atmosphere of peace and security in our geography

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement which said that an attack on any one of the three nations will be treated as an attack on all.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that diplomacy with the US in the ongoing conflict can be put back on track, but only if Washington abandoned its reliance on pressure and adopted a more respectful approach. He also stated that pressure doesn't work" against Tehran, calling on Washington to honor its commitments, after six months of conflict between the sworn enemies.

Additionally, Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that no country would be able to sell oil in the region if Tehran could not.

“The equation of this war is clear: either all or none!” he said. “In a region where we don’t sell oil, no one else will sell oil either.”

Continuing Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to establish peace in the region, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his counterparts from Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, and Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in two separate phone calls. According to the statements from the Foreign Office, FM Dar discussed the “regional developments” and “matters of mutual interest.”

Early on Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that no negotiations were currently taking place with Iran, and the halt would continue until US President Donald Trump feels that “they come to the table in a meaningful way.” 


For earlier developments, read our Aug 28 live blog here.