Saudi defense minister leads Mecca pact delegation to Tehran for talks with Iran's leaders, Saudi official says

As of 6:58 a.m. ET, Oct. 26, 2026

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is leading the kingdom's delegation to meetings in Tehran on Monday between the countries of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and Iranian officials, Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said on X.

Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkey's intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, are taking part, Krimly said. Reuters, in a report by Andrew Mills and Ariba Shahid, also said Saudi Arabia would be represented by Prince Khalid, Pakistan by Munir and Turkey by Kalin, citing Saudi and Iranian officials.

Representatives of the pact countries will meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to Krimly.

Krimly said the visit is part of the pact countries' "continued efforts" toward "de-escalation between parties involved in the ongoing crisis, and promoting dialogue and diplomatic solutions, in support of the mediation efforts carried out by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan."

What Iran has said

Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the three officials would take part in a joint meeting during a visit to Tehran, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported. Bagheri Kani told state TV the visit was for consultations with the council on regional security, Reuters reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the discussions would include "Israel's expansionist policies, developments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the repercussions of US and Israeli military action against Iran," according to Reuters. Baghaei said the meeting was proposed during a visit by Munir to Tehran last week, Reuters reported.

Why it matters

The talks come as attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have escalated in recent weeks, Reuters reported. Under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, signed in August, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all, according to Reuters. Qatari mediators met Iranian officials in Tehran on Sunday, Reuters reported.

What is not known

No readout of the meetings had been released in the material reviewed for this report, and the officials did not say what, if any, agreements were expected. Pakistan's military media wing and Turkey's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, and no Pakistani or Turkish government statement was found.