Mecca pact members Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye meet Iran's leaders in Tehran

Senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the three nations behind the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, held talks in Tehran on Monday with Iranian leaders over regional security and tensions between Iran and the United States.

Al Jazeera reported that Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Pakistani military chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. They will also discuss tensions with security chief Mohsen Rezaei, the outlet said. Yahoo described Rezaei as national security council secretary and called the visit the highest-level contact between Iran and the three members of the agreement. Anadolu Agency published handout photographs from the Iranian Leader Press Office of a quadripartite meeting in Tehran hosted by Rezaee, as it spelled the name.

Yahoo reported that the talks aim to de-escalate and promote "dialogue and diplomatic solutions", according to Saudi Arabia's deputy minister for public diplomacy. To Vima reported that the same official, Rayed Krimly, said Saudi Arabia backs mediation led by Qatar and Pakistan. To Vima, citing Reuters, said Qatari officials held talks with Iranian representatives on Sunday.

On the agenda, To Vima said the discussions are expected to cover regional security, Israel's policies and the consequences of recent US and Israeli military action. It quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying the agenda also includes developments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. Al Jazeera said the talks are expected to address missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are allied with Tehran. Al Jazeera added that Iranian authorities said they favoured "security originating from within the region".

To Vima, citing Reuters, reported that a senior Iranian official said Pakistan proposed the meeting during Munir's visit to Iran last week. It said Tehran told Munir it would not talk to the United States until its demands were met. To Vima also reported that Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles and drones on Sunday, and that President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington could launch another military operation.

Yahoo reported that Washington has pulled non-emergency staff and families from Saudi Arabia. It said Trump called it "getting to be decision time" on a deal with Iran or a return to conflict, suggesting he could resume attacks after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Al Jazeera reported that Trump said he is left with a choice to "finish the job" by launching major strikes on Iran's civilian infrastructure.

Al Jazeera quoted Ali Vaez, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the International Crisis Group, who said the visit is an attempt to tip the balance toward those willing to compromise. Ayesha Siddiqa, a senior research fellow at King's College London, told Al Jazeera that Turkiye and Pakistan cannot "afford to commit troops on the ground" in Yemen. Umer Karim, who researches Saudi foreign policy, told the outlet the talks are unlikely to reduce the risk of renewed war between Iran and the US.

The outlets differ on the pact's origins. Al Jazeera said the three nations signed it, while To Vima said Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed it in August, with Turkey also involved. To Vima, citing Reuters, said Pakistan approved the pact last week and ratification is under way in Turkey's parliament.

Background

Qatar Standard reported on 26 September that military chiefs from the three countries met in Riyadh on September 25 over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. That report said the alliance's foreign ministers met in New York a day earlier, and that its founding charter was signed on August 7.

Qatar Standard also reported in early October that Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Iran had suggested political engagement with the Houthis in "good faith". That report said the pact's core provision treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all.