Iran Meets Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey as War Fears Grow

In Tehran, four countries held security talks as fears of a new round of war grew. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman joined Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, and Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, to meet Iranian officials. The gathering brought senior figures from Iran and three members of a new defence pact together amid sharp regional tensions.^1,2

The officials discussed how to ease tensions and improve regional security. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and security chief Mohsen Rezaei also took part. Pakistan proposed the meeting, which Iran helped arrange after Munir’s visit the previous week. Iran said the talks could help build a regional security framework, while Saudi Arabia said the aim was to open channels for dialogue and prevent tensions from rising. The countries signed their mutual defence pact in August.^2,4

That security framework is under discussion as the conflict spreads beyond Iran. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have attacked Saudi targets, while wider fighting has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushed up energy prices and worsened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. Iran and the United States have both warned that fighting could resume. President Donald Trump has spoken of a possible deal and further military action, while Tehran says messages are still passing through mediators.^3,5,8

Those mediators include Pakistan and Qatar, whose earlier efforts helped produce a temporary peace deal in June before fighting resumed. The Tehran talks are not a settlement, and reports say Iran’s nuclear dispute with Washington remains unresolved. The immediate test is whether the four governments can turn their security discussions into a practical way to prevent another escalation. Trump is weighing his next move after the November 3 US midterm elections.^4,5,9