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Saudi Defense Minister Leads Delegation to Tehran Talks Amid Houthi Attacks

Updated 3:06 AM ET · 2:28 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Prince Khalid bin Salman leads a Saudi delegation to Tehran for talks under the Makkah Agreement, amid ongoing Houthi attacks.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister, is leading a delegation to Tehran for talks with Iran as part of efforts to ease regional tensions under the Makkah Agreement, according to the Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy, Ambassador Rayed Krimly.

The meeting in Tehran will include Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Intelligence Head Ibrahim Kalin, alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei.

Krimly stated that the visit aims to de-escalate the current crisis and encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, reflecting the ongoing efforts of the Makkah Agreement pact states.

The Diplomatic Insight reported that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye are holding a high-level meeting in Riyadh today under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, amid rising regional tensions over Houthi attacks and Saudi Arabia's security.

The meeting will also discuss efforts to further institutionalize the alliance, according to Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the participation of its senior defense leadership reflects Islamabad’s commitment to regional peace and stability.

The meeting reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia and discussed intelligence sharing, military coordination, and greater integration of defense capabilities, according to Pakistan’s state broadcaster.

Meanwhile, piecemeal footage from the area shows masked men walking aggressively toward a delegation, a French mayor lying on the ground in pain, and a broken window in one of the diplomatic vehicles.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) condemned what they called 'the severe act of violence' and said they were investigating, while France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called for urgent action to halt the criminal violence and guarantee the safety of civilian populations.

In a separate development, masked Israelis reportedly attacked a delegation visiting olive groves near the Palestinian Christian village of Taiba on Saturday.

The EU welcomed statements by Israeli officials condemning the attacks but expected 'full accountability' and measures to prevent further violence against Palestinians and journalists.

The Saudi-led delegation's visit to Tehran comes amid ongoing Houthi attacks, with Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport partially reopening despite threats from Yemen's Houthi movement.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister, is leading a delegation to Tehran for talks with Iran as part of efforts to ease regional tensions under the Makkah Agreement, according to the Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy, Ambassador Rayed Krimly.
• The meeting in Tehran will include Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Intelligence Head Ibrahim Kalin, alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei.
• Krimly stated that the visit aims to de-escalate the current crisis and encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, reflecting the ongoing efforts of the Makkah Agreement pact states.
• The Diplomatic Insight reported that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye are holding a high-level meeting in Riyadh today under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, amid rising regional tensions over Houthi attacks and Saudi Arabia's security.
• The meeting will also discuss efforts to further institutionalize the alliance, according to Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry.
• Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the participation of its senior defense leadership reflects Islamabad’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
• The meeting reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia and discussed intelligence sharing, military coordination, and greater integration of defense capabilities, according to Pakistan’s state broadcaster.
• Meanwhile, piecemeal footage from the area shows masked men walking aggressively toward a delegation, a French mayor lying on the ground in pain, and a broken window in one of the diplomatic vehicles.
• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) condemned what they called 'the severe act of violence' and said they were investigating, while France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called for urgent action to halt the criminal violence and guarantee the safety of civilian populations.
• In a separate development, masked Israelis reportedly attacked a delegation visiting olive groves near the Palestinian Christian village of Taiba on Saturday.
• The EU welcomed statements by Israeli officials condemning the attacks but expected 'full accountability' and measures to prevent further violence against Palestinians and journalists.
• The Saudi-led delegation's visit to Tehran comes amid ongoing Houthi attacks, with Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport partially reopening despite threats from Yemen's Houthi movement.

What's still developing

• He told a delegation from Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): “For the students and the families, re-opening the school will bring some sense of normality. We have worked hard to ensure that it is a safe environment. There is almost nowhere in Gaza that has not been destroyed, destruction is all around – but we have worked hard to make the school a clean environment, where the children – who have been through so much – can feel safe”.
• According to the study, 20 Jews were murdered in four separate attacks in 2025, making it “the highest number of victims of antisemitic attacks in more than three decades.” Hundreds of incidents and physical assaults were reported across several countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.
• The diplomat stressed that Russia had continued attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure even after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an “energy truce” initiative on October 11.
• Vitrenko informed OSCE participating States’ delegations that over the past week alone, Russia had carried out more than 200 strikes on electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine, as well as 17 attacks on gas and oil infrastructure.
• “It must be understood by President Trump and those who seek to bully us that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations, but without the language of force,” he added.
• Zelenskyy said in posts to social media that the Russian attack "was complex, and the Russians deliberately planned it to cause as much damage as possible to people's lives, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and Shahed drones."
• Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces downed at least 384 Ukrainian drones overnight into Tuesday morning, with craft shot down over 14 Russian regions -- the capital region of Moscow among them -- as well as occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.
• The toll was particularly heavy on Friday when Russian attacks killed eight people and injured 59 in Kyiv, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
• 27, briefly interrupted during a US delegation’s Sept.
• Witkoff and Kushner met Putin in Moscow after Trump called them “great negotiators” bringing “a proposal to end the war,” saying “there may be a good chance we will do it.” The Kremlin did not match the optimism from the White House, with Peskov noting Trump himself had said “there’s no talk of new ideas.” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov went further, telling Russian state media the U.S.
• The train, on a route frequently used by foreign delegations returning from Kyiv, was attacked just 1.2 miles from the Polish border, Ukraine’s railway operator said.
• : Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he endorses British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a campaign event during a Conservative general election campaign event in London, Britain, July 2, 2024.

Sources

• The Diplomatic Insightlink
• Timesofisraellink
• BBClink
• Premierchristianlink
• OSV Newslink
• Jpostlink
• Ukrinformlink
• The Indian Expresslink
• Abcnewslink
• Kyivpostlink
• Lavocedinewyorklink
• Al Jazeeralink
• Hawaiitribune-Heraldlink
• WarpBeat — background on Saudi Arabia Reopens Riyadh Airport Amid Houthi Threats link
• WarpBeat — background on US Orders Diplomats to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Attacks link
• NDTV — video link