WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States was talking to "the right people" in Iran in order to reach an agreement to end hostilities, adding that the Iranians want to reach a deal very badly.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said "we're in negotiations right now" over Iran but would not provide details, particularly on whether U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner planned talks this week.

Pakistan has said it is willing to host talks between the United States and Iran.

By Samia Nakhoul

DUBAI, March 24 (Reuters) - Donald Trump’s abrupt pause in his showdown with Iran followed warnings from Gulf states that the war was veering into a far more perilous phase and rising fears among officials in the region that Washington had misjudged Tehran’s readiness to escalate, regional sources and analysts said.

Israel should "refrain" from sending in forces to take control of a zone in south Lebanon, France's foreign minister told AFP on Tuesday, warning that such a move would have "major humanitarian consequences".

"We urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from such ground operations, which would have major humanitarian consequences and would exacerbate the country's already dire situation," Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with AFP.

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is expected to send thousands of soldiers from the army's elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to the massive military buildup even as the Trump administration seeks talks with Iran.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not specify where in the Middle East the troops would go and when they would arrive in the region. The soldiers are stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

PRAGUE, March 24 (Reuters) - Czech and Slovak police have detained three people, including U.S. and Czech citizens, on terrorism charges following an arson attack on an arms producer's facility claimed by a group that says the company develops weapons in cooperation with an Israeli firm.

Two of the suspects from Friday's attack were detained in the Czech Republic and one in Slovakia, Czech police said on X on Tuesday.

"We continue to work intensively to apprehend the remaining suspects, also in cooperation with foreign partners," the police said.

US oil giant ConocoPhillips has been urging President Donald Trump's administration to provide extra protection around assets in Qatar where the company has invested significantly, its chief executive said Tuesday.

CEO Ryan Lance's comments at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston come as war rages on in the Middle East, after US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 triggered Tehran's retaliation.

In addition to bringing commercial shipping to a virtual halt through the vital Strait of Hormuz, Iran has also attacked energy infrastructure in the region.

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's approval rating fell in recent days to its lowest point since he returned to the White House, hit by a surge in fuel prices and widespread disapproval of the war he launched on Iran, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

The four-day poll, which closed on Monday, showed 36% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance, down from 40% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week.

By Ariba Shahid, Saad Sayeed and Mubasher Bukhari

ISLAMABAD, March 24 (Reuters) - Pakistan's role as a possible host of talks aimed at ending the Iran war builds on its courtship of U.S. President Donald Trump and its reputation as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to neighbouring Iran's Islamic Republic.

If talks happen, it could raise Pakistan's global prominence to heights not reached since Pakistan helped mediate the secret diplomatic opening that led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972.

DUBAI, March 24 (Reuters) - Iran named a former Revolutionary Guards commander and senior figure in the hardline political faction on Tuesday to replace the powerful head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes last week.

Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr was appointed as Larijani's successor as secretary of the SNSC, the Iranian president's deputy of communications posted on X on Tuesday.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Gulf involvement -

Gulf countries said that they wanted to be involved in any talks between the United States and Iran.

"We emphasize the necessity of involving the GCC countries in any talks or agreements to resolve this crisis, in a way that contributes to strengthening their security and stability," Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem AlBudaiwi said in a televised speech, adding that Iran had been asking vessels to pay sums of money to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

- 'Nothing from NATO' -