Mecca pact powers meet Iran in push to avert wider war

Iran and representatives of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey agreed Monday to continue discussions on regional peace and security after talks in Tehran, Iranian state television reported, as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent renewed fighting across the Middle East.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian. The discussions covered efforts to avert further war and attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia.

Iranian state television described the meeting as an initial encounter aimed at strengthening cooperation, particularly on regional security.

The visit brought together the three members of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Saudi officials said the diplomatic initiative supported mediation led by Pakistan and Qatar.

A Pakistani security official told Reuters that participants discussed a regional non-aggression framework, US-Iran negotiations, Houthi attacks, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports. An Iranian official said Tehran’s nuclear program was excluded pending satisfaction of its conditions for ending the war.

The diplomacy followed a visit by Qatari mediators on Sunday. Pakistan and Qatar previously helped broker a June agreement intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US blockade and launch broader negotiations, but that arrangement collapsed when attacks resumed.

Military pressure continued alongside the talks. The Houthis claimed fresh attacks on Saudi pipeline infrastructure and Riyadh airport on Monday, without immediate Saudi confirmation. Egypt’s parliament separately authorised military assistance to defend Saudi Arabia.