High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey met with Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday in efforts to prevent a renewed escalation of conflict in the Middle East involving Iran. The talks, hosted by Major-General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, focused on addressing regional security concerns amid rising tensions driven by fears of new military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The Saudi delegation was led by Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, accompanied by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkey’s intelligence service. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed support for any agreement that would deepen cooperation among Islamic countries, resolve differences, and make more effective use of shared resources and capabilities.
The meeting marks a continuation of diplomatic efforts, following a visit by Qatari mediators to Tehran on Sunday, who were working in coordination with the U.S. to de-escalate tensions. Pakistan and Qatar previously helped broker an agreement in June aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and advancing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, but that deal quickly unraveled amid renewed hostilities.
The delegations sought to find ways to reduce rising tensions and enhance regional security, according to Saudi Arabia’s statement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned in a televised address that renewed attacks on Iran would destabilize the entire region and adversely impact countries not involved in the conflict. “It is our hope that all parties will refrain from any actions that could drag our region into a new spiral of violence,” Erdogan said.
The meeting took place amid persistent threats from Israeli and American leaders in the run-up to national elections in Israel on Tuesday and the U.S. midterm elections on November 3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of possible Iranian or proxy attacks intended to disrupt the Israeli election, reiterating Israel’s readiness to respond forcefully. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence officials have issued warnings about Iranian plots targeting American officials abroad.
Iranian officials have stressed that diplomacy remains open, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stating that Tehran is transmitting messages to the U.S. through intermediaries, despite frustration over perceived unilateral demands from Washington. He also dismissed allegations of imminent Iranian attacks as "false-flag operations," affirming Iran’s right to self-defense.
The ongoing war in Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels have intensified missile strikes against Saudi Arabia, was also a key topic in the talks. Following recent Saudi-led airstrikes on Houthi-held areas, including the Sanaa International Airport, the Houthis claimed ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi-backed forces in multiple provinces, while reports emerged of damage in Yemen’s port city of Mokha, now under Houthi control. In response to escalating Houthi attacks, Egypt’s parliament approved President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s request to provide military support to Saudi Arabia.
Regional analysts have described the meeting as an urgent attempt to avert a widening war that many view as increasingly likely. However, some officials and experts express caution, noting that despite these diplomatic efforts, serious challenges remain in reconciling the divergent positions of the parties involved. The upcoming elections in Israel and the U.S. are expected to significantly influence the trajectory of both diplomacy and military planning in the coming weeks.