Iran hosts Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish delegations for high‑level security talks in Tehran

Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey travelled to Tehran on Monday, 26 October 2026, for a series of security talks with Iranian authorities. The delegations were led by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iran’s deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, confirmed that the meetings also included Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei.

Set against eight months of Middle Eastern conflict and fresh warnings from Washington and Tel Aviv regarding potential strikes on Tehran, the negotiations were organized. Posting on X, Dr Rayed Krimly, the Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, revealed that the defence minister would lead the group, characterizing the trip as a component of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement aimed at reducing the crisis's intensity.

Background

The three‑nation bloc – Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan – is bound by the Mecca (or Makkah) Joint Defence Agreement signed in August 2024, which obliges each member to treat an armed attack on any one of them as an attack on all. Since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2024, when the United States and Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran, the region has seen a series of escalations, including a ceasefire in April and ongoing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global oil and LNG supplies.

Iranian state media and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs both reported that the meeting was intended to implement the concept of “endogenous security” in West Asia, a term used by Kani to describe regional self‑reliance on security matters. The talks also coincided with heightened rhetoric from Washington and Tehran ahead of the United States mid‑term elections on 3 November and Israel’s parliamentary elections scheduled for the following Tuesday.

Why it matters

The delegations’ agenda, as outlined by officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, included efforts to prevent a renewal of fighting between Iran, Israel and the United States. The official Saudi communication highlighted the objective of identifying methods to lower tensions, strengthen security across the region, and foster stability. The conflict in Yemen, where Iran‑aligned Houthi rebels have intensified attacks on Saudi targets, was also on the table.

The outcomes of these talks could influence the security environment of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 % of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Any shift in the posture of the Mecca Pact members toward Iran may affect the balance of power, impact global energy markets and shape diplomatic initiatives led by Qatar and Pakistan, which have been mediating between the parties.

What happens next

Both Iranian and Saudi officials indicated that the meetings were part of an ongoing dialogue, with no immediate public commitments announced. Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, indicated that the conversations would cover Israel's expansionist agenda and wider regional growth matters, while implying that additional negotiation sessions could take place.

The United States and Israel have not publicly responded to the Tehran meetings, but analysts note that the timing aligns with their own strategic calculations ahead of upcoming elections. Observers will watch for any formal statements or joint communiqués that could signal a shift in policy or the establishment of confidence‑building measures.

The high‑level engagement marks the first direct contact between Iran and all three Mecca Pact members since Saudi Arabia became a more prominent pressure point in the wider Iran conflict. Whether the talks translate into concrete de‑escalation steps remains to be seen, but the gathering underscores the urgency felt by regional actors to manage a volatile security landscape.