Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials to hold talks in Tehran on 26 October

Delegations named for Tehran

Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told state television that Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin will take part in a joint meeting in Tehran on Monday, 26 October. Riyadh confirmed the trip through Rayed Krimly, Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy, who said the defence minister will head the Saudi delegation. According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian side will be led by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. In a statement, Saudi Arabia said the delegations hope to find ways to de-escalate tensions, enhance regional security and promote its stability.

Krimly wrote on X that the trip forms part of the continued efforts by Mecca Defence Alliance members to ease tensions between parties in the ongoing crisis.

“The visit underscores the pivotal role of Mecca Joint Defence Agreement countries in reinforcing regional security and stability”

A defence pact and the Houthi front

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan announced the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. Under its terms, an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three. Iran is regarded as a backer of the Houthi militia in Yemen, and Saudi Arabia has faced escalating Houthi attacks. Saudi forces intercepted another wave of missiles and drones on Sunday, 25 October, as fighting with the Houthis continued. The planned meeting would be the first high-level contact between Iran and all three members of the bloc since those attacks escalated last month.

Mediators from Qatar also met Iranian officials in Tehran on Sunday, 25 October, as part of efforts to lower regional tensions. Qatar has played a central mediating role between Tehran and Washington for months, and Pakistan has served as an intermediary between the United States and Iran since the war began in February.

Diplomacy with Washington remains stalled

Pakistan's Asim Munir visited Tehran last week, where he met President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. According to Iranian media, Iranian officials told him there would be no talks with the United States until Tehran's demands were met. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said at the weekend that Tehran had not closed the window of diplomacy and that messages were being passed to Washington through intermediaries. He accused the United States of persisting in unilateral demands.

The war began in late February, when the United States and Israel launched a wave of surprise strikes on Iran while Washington and Tehran were negotiating over Iran's nuclear programme. An April ceasefire ended the first phase of heavy bombing, but both sides still compete for control of the Strait of Hormuz. An interim agreement reached in June quickly unravelled as fighting between Iran and the United States resumed weeks later.

Elections and open questions

Israel holds an election on Tuesday, 27 October, and the United States votes on 3 November. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Iran or its proxies could attack to disrupt the Israeli vote, citing intelligence. In a video statement he said the military was ready to defend and to strike.

“You will suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine.”

The full agenda of the Tehran meeting has not been published, and reports from before the meeting said it was unclear whether it would produce joint initiatives or concrete commitments. Officials from the participating countries have spoken on condition of anonymity, and it remains to be seen what the delegations will agree in Tehran.