Tehran, Oct 2026 : Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday to explore diplomatic options for de-escalating the Middle East conflict, as Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia and Egypt authorised military support for the Gulf kingdom.
The meeting marked the first high-level engagement between Iran and the three countries since the war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequently spread to Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The discussions came amid rising regional tensions, disruptions to global energy supplies and growing concerns over the possibility of renewed military escalation.
Saudi Arabia said the visit was intended to establish negotiating channels to “prevent the return of military escalation”. The Saudi delegation was led by Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, while Pakistan was represented by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also participated in the talks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei attended the discussions. Iranian state media reported that the four countries had agreed to continue consultations aimed at strengthening regional peace and security.
Pakistan Leads Diplomatic Efforts
Pakistan and Qatar have played leading roles in mediation efforts during the conflict. Earlier negotiations helped secure an interim peace agreement in June, but hostilities between Iran and the United States subsequently resumed. Clashes involving Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia later widened the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the meeting had been proposed during Munir’s visit to Tehran the previous week. He described the discussions as a possible first step towards developing regional security mechanisms.
Rezaei said the participation of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan demonstrated that American threats had limited influence on countries around the world. He also described the discussions as reflecting a “new and positive atmosphere” in the region.
A senior Pakistani security official said the talks focused on establishing a regional non-aggression network. The agenda reportedly included possible US-Iran negotiations, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, security in the Strait of Hormuz and the American blockade of Iranian ports.
Another Pakistani official said Munir had presented Iran with a proposed solution intended to address the concerns of both Washington and Tehran, following diplomatic approval from US President Donald Trump. The official did not disclose the details of the proposal.
According to the official, countries covered by the Mecca mutual defence pact, along with Qatar, could serve as guarantors if the proposal were accepted.
Nuclear Dispute Remains a Major Obstacle
Despite the diplomatic initiative, significant differences remain between Washington and Tehran. Iran has maintained that its nuclear programme cannot be discussed until its demands for ending the war are addressed. These demands include lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must reduce its nuclear enrichment activities to bring the conflict to an end. Meanwhile, Trump has warned that Washington could launch another military operation against Iran, raising concerns about a further escalation.
Iranian security officials have also warned of possible attacks on undersea cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel resume strikes.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for international energy supplies, contributing to pressure on global oil and gas markets. Missile and drone attacks have also heightened security concerns across the Gulf, while Yemen continues to face a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Houthis Claim Attacks on Saudi Oil Pipeline and Riyadh Airport
Separately, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed on Monday that they had attacked pumping stations along Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline and Riyadh airport. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the reported attacks.
The airport said it had resumed operations at two terminals a day earlier. Saudi Arabia has intensified its military strikes against the Houthis since the group captured strategic areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month, advancing against Saudi-backed government forces.
The Houthis have also targeted Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities, adding to concerns over the security of critical infrastructure and regional energy supplies.
Egypt Authorises Military Support for Saudi Arabia
In another development, Egypt’s parliament authorised the country’s military to support Saudi Arabia’s defence. Cairo considers Riyadh an important financial and political partner and has also been considering joining the Mecca mutual defence pact.
The agreement requires signatories to use all necessary means to counter threats to one another’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognised borders.
Members of the pact held an emergency meeting in Riyadh earlier this month and agreed to facilitate the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan approved the agreement last week, while Turkey’s parliamentary ratification process is under way.
As diplomatic contacts continue, the Tehran talks represent an effort to prevent further expansion of the Middle East conflict. However, the outcome will depend on whether regional powers can bridge differences over military operations, maritime security, sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
