Mecca alliance envoys seek to open diplomatic channel with Iran

Senior representatives of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey travelled to Tehran on Monday in a coordinated diplomatic initiative aimed at preventing a new military escalation involving Iran. The envoys met President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior Iranian officials, but no agreement was publicly announced. The delegation consisted of Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir; Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman; and Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin.

They represented the Mecca defence pact, an alliance between Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara formally established this summer. Saudi Arabia said the visit was intended to open negotiating channels and prevent a return to military escalation. A senior Pakistani official cited by Reuters said the discussions included a proposed regional non-aggression network, possible US-Iran talks, attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, the Strait of Hormuz and a US naval blockade.

Another official told Reuters that Munir presented Iran with a possible settlement offering concessions to both Washington and Tehran. The account said the three Mecca states and Qatar could act as mediators, and that US President Donald Trump had previously authorised Munir to pursue diplomacy. The reports did not provide details of the proposed settlement.

Iranian officials offered a positive assessment of the meeting without claiming a breakthrough. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said state television had carried “very good discussions” and that he sensed a new regional atmosphere. He also argued that West Asian countries should build regional security without outside intervention.

Iranian state media said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei later called for the protection of Iran’s interests and for Tehran to maintain its conditions for ending both the war and the current state of “neither war nor peace”. Separately, Pezeshkian travelled to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Pezeshkian and the emir also discussed the war and Hormuz.

The diplomatic effort coincided with signs of a harder regional security posture. The Mecca pact says an attack on one member should be treated as an attack on all three. Egypt’s parliament also agreed to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia and take “all necessary measures” to help defend it.

Saudi Arabia has become increasingly concerned about Houthi attacks that have damaged infrastructure and affected its economy. Analyst Babak Dorbeiki told DW that the simultaneous arrival of the three envoys showed that the members were acting as a bloc. He said the pact was primarily intended to deter attacks rather than launch an offensive war.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey all have reasons to favour negotiations: Riyadh wants to protect its economic projects, Islamabad has interests in both Washington and Tehran, and a conflict could distract Pakistan from its security concerns involving India. Al Jazeera separately reported that Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran remained in close contact with mediators over ideas for implementing a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.