Iranian officials said the 26 October meeting in Tehran opened discussions with members of the Mecca defence pact. Their account, not confirmed by Saudi Arabia or its allies, described an agreement to continue talks on regional cooperation.
Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials agreed to continue discussions with Iran after meeting in Tehran on 26 October, Iranian officials said. Al Jazeera cited a post-meeting Iranian statement carried by Iran’s Fars news agency. Saudi Arabia and its allies had not commented on the meeting or the reported agreement.
The visit followed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in August. Under the pact, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The three governments describe it as a mutual defence pact, while some in Iran feared it was aimed at Tehran.
Iran’s account named the host as Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The visitors were Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın. Iranian state television described it as their first joint meeting, focused on peace and security in the region.
Earlier on 26 October, Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy Rayed Krimly said the visit supported efforts to reduce tensions and promote dialogue and diplomatic solutions. He said it backed mediation by Qatar and Pakistan.
The Guardian said the delegations travelled to Tehran to try to prevent renewed fighting between Iran and the US and Israel, and to push for an Iran–US deal. Before the meeting, it said officials were expected to discuss how Iran could persuade the Houthis in Yemen to stop missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
The Guardian also said officials were understood to be discussing Iran’s possible inclusion in a new security pact involving Islamic countries. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has previously advocated a regional pact in which Iran plays a role. Its spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said the meeting could open a path to broader regional security cooperation.
The October 26 meeting in Tehran brought Iran together with three countries bound by a defence pact, producing a commitment to further regional dialogue.
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