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Saudi, Pakistani, Turkish Delegations Meet Iranian Officials in Tehran
· Confirmed
In Short: The Iranian delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, met with the Saudi, Pakistani, and Turkish representatives.
High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey met with Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday, marking the first formal joint diplomatic contact between Iran and the three-nation defensive alliance.
The meeting, initiated by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, included Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish National Intelligence Director Ibrahim Kalin.
The talks aimed to address regional security challenges, particularly the intensifying Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi territory.
According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, the agenda was not set but would undoubtedly address the most pressing threats to regional security.
The discussions also covered intelligence sharing, military coordination, and greater integration of defense capabilities to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s territorial sovereignty.
The meeting follows the historic Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey in August, which established a mutual defense alliance.
Qatari mediators were in Tehran on Sunday, working in coordination with the U.S., as part of ongoing efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.
The talks also addressed the conflict in Yemen and the potential for renewed fighting between Iran and Israel and the United States.
Prince Khalid bin Salman, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Ibrahim Kalin held intensive and detailed discussions with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
The Iranian delegation told the Pakistani representatives it would not hold talks with Washington until its demands were met.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey hope to find ways to de-escalate tensions, enhance regional security, and promote stability.
The talks also reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia and discussed the safe and expeditious passage of ships, particularly given their impact on global supply chains.
What's confirmed
- Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told state television that the delegation would meet the council’s secretary, Mohsen Rezaei.
- Morning Rundown: Israel’s first election since Oct. 7 attacks, key midterm ballot measures to watch, and Chris Brown sentenced over London nightclub brawl High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey were in Tehran on Monday for meetings with Iranian authorities to try to avert renewed fighting between Iran and Israel and the United States, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
- The conflict has intensified since forces from the internationally recognized government and Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport in July, shattering a 2022 ceasefire deal that largely stopped the fighting in the country’s civil war.
- According to information obtained by WANA ’s reporter, the delegation is also scheduled to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
- The war in Yemen and strikes by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia were also topics of the talks, according to two regional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.
- Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Dr. Rayed Krimly announced the visit in a statement on X, saying the meetings would bring together representatives of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye.
- The delegation includes Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish National Intelligence Director Ibrahim Kalin.
- Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister, is leading a delegation to Tehran for talks under the Makkah Agreement.
- In a subsequent update, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the heads of the Pakistani, Saudi and Turkish delegations had held intensive and detailed discussions with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
- The discussions bring together Iran and the three signatories to the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
- Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Pakistan’s army chief and Turkey’s intelligence chief were meeting with Iranian officials Monday to push for a diplomatic agreement with Washington.
- Iranian media reported that Tehran had told the Pakistani delegation it would not hold talks with Washington until its demands were met.
What's still developing
- Over the weekend, Saudi air defense forces successfully intercepted another wave of incoming drones and ballistic missiles launched from Yemen.
- Consequently, regional diplomats view the Tehran summit as a critical effort to manage broader Middle Eastern tensions.
- During those initial consultations, member states agreed to accelerate the rapid deployment of military assets and forces to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s territorial sovereignty.
- Therefore, alliance partners seek direct diplomatic communication with Tehran to discuss regional coordination and mitigate expanding conflict risks.
- In its latest security alert, issued on 25 October, the U.S. mission in Saudi Arabia said the State Department had ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, effective 23 October due to safety risks.
- In March 1995, an Azerbaijani colonel launched a coup attempt against Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev with the active involvement of Turkish citizens, allegedly including pan-Turkist elements within the Turkish security establishment.
- Exercising India’s right to reply in response to certain references made by Pakistani delegation on J&K at an international forum in Tanzania, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh on Wednesday said that Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India, and that Pakistan has no locus standi commenting on India’s internal affairs.
- Pakistan has been a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran since the US and Israel launched the war in February.
- Footage released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office showed Dimri greeting Dar with a handshake before standing alongside the Pakistani foreign minister and Pakistan’s SCO National Coordinator Muhammad Faisal.
- US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Zurich on Sunday morning, joining senior American negotiators already in Switzerland, while Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf led Tehran’s delegation.
- The meeting in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock marks the first high-level engagement since US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier this week aimed at ending months of conflict and opening negotiations between Iran and the United States.
- IRNA said the delegation heads would subsequently meet President Masoud Pezeshkian before his departure for Russia on Monday night.
Sources
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videoslink
- Al-Monitorlink
- Arab News PKlink
- Bluefield Daily Telegraphlink
- Daily Timeslink
- Doha Newslink
- Hurriyetdailynewslink
- NBC Newslink
- New York Postlink
- Saudigazettelink
- The Seattle Timeslink
- WANA News Agencylink
- https://aapnews.aap.com.au/link
- morning-times.comlink
- seMissourianlink
- Abbtakklink
- DawnNews English — video link