Senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are expected to meet Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday for discussions on regional security and coordination, Reuters reported.
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to attend, along with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, is also expected to take part.
Iranian official Ali Bagheri Kani confirmed the planned visit, saying the delegations would hold consultations with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on regional security.
The meeting would be the first high-level contact between Iran and all three countries since Saudi Arabia came under increasing attacks from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Saudi Arabia intercepted another wave of missiles and drones on Sunday as fighting with the Houthis continued.
Munir visited Tehran last week, where he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. Iranian officials said during the visit that Tehran would not hold talks with Washington until its demands were met, according to Iranian media.
Pakistan has also played a role in mediation between the United States and Iran. Earlier efforts helped secure an interim peace agreement in June, but the arrangement unravelled weeks later as fighting resumed.
Meeting Follows Mecca Pact Defence Talks
The Tehran discussions follow an emergency meeting of Mecca Pact members in Riyadh earlier this month. Officials at that meeting agreed to ensure the “rapid deployment” of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. Under the pact, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all, and members commit to using “all necessary means” to respond to threats to their territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognised borders.
Pakistan approved the agreement last week, while Turkey’s parliament began the ratification process earlier this month. Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials had not immediately responded to requests for comment, Reuters reported.
