Iran hosts an unusual delegation in Tehran on Monday: Saudi Arabia's defence minister, Pakistan's army chief and Turkey's intelligence chief, meeting Iranian officials all at once to talk about regional security.
The announcement came from Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in an interview with state television. "As agreed, Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief General Asim Munir" would take part, he said. The Turkish delegation is headed by intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın.
Who is at the table
The three visitors represent the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. On the Iranian side, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, is taking part, and, according to Saudi diplomats, so is President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly confirmed in a post on X that Khalid bin Salman is leading his country's delegation. He described the trip as part of the continued effort by the Makkah agreement countries "for de-escalation" and said the aim is to "promote dialogue and diplomatic solutions", in support of the mediation led by Qatar and Pakistan.
What is on the agenda
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei pointed to three topics: Israel's expansionist policies, the situation in Lebanon and the war the United States is waging against Iran. According to Agence France-Presse, the region has been in conflict since late February, when the United States and Israel attacked the country.
Bagheri Kani accused Washington and Tel Aviv of eroding regional stability and argued that Iran's experience in building its defence capabilities could serve a security system free of foreign intervention — the thesis Iran is taking to the table, and which in practice asks its neighbours to organise Gulf security without the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had warned on Sunday against fresh American military action and said Iran would maintain its policies regardless, calling for regional cooperation without outside interference.
The diplomatic cordon
Monday's meeting is not an isolated one. A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday evening with the aim of preventing further escalation, and the fear driving that movement is concrete: that the United States and Israel will strike Iran again and widen the conflict.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia is facing intensified fighting with Yemen's Houthis, who continue to launch missiles at Saudi territory — which helps explain why Riyadh now appears as a guarantor of a conversation with Tehran, rather than as part of a bloc against it.
With information from The New Arab, Turkish Minute and Agence France-Presse.
