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Mecca Pact allies hold Iran talks to ease tensions
Published : Monday, 26 October, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye arrived in Tehran on Monday (October 26) for talks with Iranian leaders to ease tensions between Iran and the United States and address growing security concerns over Yemen.
Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian amid fears of renewed US strikes on Iran.
The visit by the three signatories of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict.
Analysts say the talks are also expected to focus on missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia. Riyadh supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while the Houthis are allied with Tehran.
Ayesha Siddiqa, a senior research fellow at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that Saudi Arabia was increasing pressure on its regional partners as the Houthi offensive intensified. However, she said neither Turkiye nor Pakistan could afford to deploy troops on the ground in Yemen.
The diplomatic push also comes as Washington considers further military action against Iran following a deadlock in negotiations.
The United States has called for the resumption of unimpeded maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, limits on Iran’s nuclear programme and international inspections of its highly enriched uranium.
Tehran, meanwhile, wants Washington to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and return to a memorandum of understanding agreed in June.
Analysts cautioned that the talks might do little to prevent renewed conflict, although the participating countries are likely to seek compromises to limit the security risks facing Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
Source: Al Jazeera
-AH
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
