Pakistan made possible the meeting of top leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye in Iran

DND Report

Pakistan and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir have made an impossible development possible by bringing the Mecca Defence Alliance and Iran to the table in Tehran for their first official talks, aimed at melting the ice between Saudi Arabia and Iran and moving forward to save the region from another war that is knocking at the door as the United States and Israel vow to launch a massive attack on Iran soon.

According to available information, members of the Mecca Defence Alliance openly conveyed to Iran while sitting in Tehran that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are further complicating an already highly volatile regional situation, which could spiral out of control if Saudi Arabia’s security is not ensured through cooperation among Pakistan, Türkiye and Iran.

According to available information, the meeting has borne fruit, with Iran expressing that it understood the stated positions of Türkiye and Pakistan regarding the protection of their Mecca Defence Alliance partner—Saudi Arabia. Information also suggests that this meeting, initiated by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, helped push Iran closer to a regional security framework that could minimise foreign intervention, including that of the United States, in the region.

Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative and Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts to bring regional stakeholders together reflect Islamabad’s determination to prevent another war, protect Saudi Arabia’s security and encourage regional countries to develop mechanisms for resolving their differences through dialogue rather than military confrontation.

Reuters reported that the main focus of the Tehran meeting is to establish a regional non-aggression network. The agenda includes resuming US-Iran negotiations, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, confirmed that the meeting could represent a first step towards establishing regional security mechanisms.

The New York Times added that Tehran attaches special symbolic importance to the visit, as Iranian officials seek to exclude the United States from regional security and diplomatic arrangements. They welcome the direction taken by countries in the region towards developing security mechanisms based on their own interests.

The Associated Press confirmed, citing two regional officials that the Yemeni war and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia were among the issues presented to the tripartite delegation during the Tehran meetings. These talks have gained special importance because they mark the first high-level collective contact between Iran and members of the Mecca Defense Agreement—which includes Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan—since the war expanded to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The New York Times reported that Qatari mediators are working on a US-Iran agreement based on an exchange of gradual concessions over five days. Under the proposed arrangement, Iran would open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial navigation in exchange for the United States lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The diplomats confirmed that the main obstacle lies in determining the timing for each party to fulfil its commitments.

The newspaper quoted a Gulf official familiar with the negotiations as saying that the visit of the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani delegation to Tehran aims to support Qatari-Pakistani mediation and encourage Iran to demonstrate sufficient flexibility to reach a diplomatic solution with the United States.

The Associated Press confirmed, that Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Sunday, October 25, in coordination with Washington, as part of efforts to prevent further escalation. Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Raed Karmini also clarified that the visit of the three delegations targets de-escalation and supports mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan.

The Financial Times added that mediators are attempting to build on a seven-day Iranian plan presented during the United Nations General Assembly. The plan includes allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ending the blockade and providing access to a portion of Iran’s frozen assets abroad, followed by the resumption of final settlement negotiations.

Bloomberg reported that addressing the potential escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf is more important in the Tehran meeting than attempting to resolve the military confrontation with the Houthis.

The visit of the three delegations coincided with an escalation in military operations in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as the Houthis announced on Monday that they had targeted oil pumping stations on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and Riyadh’s airport. In response, Saudi forces announced the destruction of five tunnels used to store ballistic missiles, four launch platforms and another missile depot in Houthi-controlled areas.

The developments underline the urgency of the diplomatic efforts being pursued by Pakistan and its regional partners. With tensions threatening to widen the conflict, the Tehran meeting has opened a channel for direct engagement between Iran and members of the Mecca Alliance at a critical moment.

Pakistan’s initiative, associated with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, seeks to turn this opening into a regional security arrangement capable of reducing tensions, protecting region supporting diplomatic mediation and preventing the region from sliding into another devastating war. The challenge now is to translate the understanding reached in Tehran into practical commitments that can ensure lasting peace and security across the region.