Iran talks with Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani envoys as Gulf states seek deal to avert renewed war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met senior representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in Tehran on Monday, 26 October, as the three countries sought to prevent renewed military escalation. DW reported that the visit opened negotiating channels, but that continued talks were the only apparent outcome.

The visitors were Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, according to DW. The outlet said they represented the Mecca defense pact, formed by their three countries this summer. Saudi Arabia said the trip was intended to open channels and prevent a return to military escalation.

What the Tehran talks covered

Babak Dorbeiki, a London-based political analyst and former official at Iran’s Strategic Research Center, told DW that the simultaneous visit signalled the three countries were acting as a bloc. His assessment describes the diplomatic message of the visit; it does not establish that Iran accepted a joint proposal.

Hormuz and Yemen in the proposed deal

The Guardian reported that Gulf states were working on a multipart proposal to avert renewed US-Iran war. Its account included reopening the Strait of Hormuz within four days of sanctions being lifted and a withdrawal of substantial Houthi forces in Yemen. Those were proposed terms, rather than an announced agreement.

Iran was focused on guarantees of sanctions relief in exchange for reopening Hormuz, The Guardian reported. Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s national security council, said Tehran was willing to shorten its proposed interval between sanctions relief and reopening the strait from seven days to four. The timing matters because it would determine when shipping could resume under the proposal.

The Guardian also reported that Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council, met Houthi ambassador Ibrahim al-Dulaimi on Tuesday, 27 October. DW said Iran had not publicly offered the guarantees over Houthi attacks that Saudi Arabia would want. That leaves a consequential part of the proposed regional arrangement unresolved.

According to The Guardian’s account, Iran kept its nuclear programme off the agenda at the Tehran meeting and steered discussion toward a longer-term regional security vision. The difference between those priorities and the detailed proposals on Hormuz and Yemen helps explain why further talks, rather than a settled deal, remain the reported result.