Mecca Defence Pact Allies Arrive in Tehran Amid US Strike Threats

Senior security officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye are in Tehran for high-level talks aimed at de-escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. The three nations are signatories to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a regional alliance formed to coordinate security responses. Their arrival in the Iranian capital marks one of the most prominent diplomatic engagements in the region in recent months.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Pakistani military chief Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The group is also scheduled to consult with security chief Mohsen Rezaei. Analysts view this visit as a critical attempt to prevent a renewed outbreak of violence before diplomatic channels close completely.

Ali Vaez, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the International Crisis Group, described the meeting as a final effort to favor compromise. "The Mecca pact’s 11th-hour visit to Tehran is an attempt to tip the balance in favour of those willing to compromise before the guns start blazing again," Vaez said. He warned that without a credible formula to bridge the divide, the delegation may find itself with little more than goodwill in a race against the clock.

The discussions are expected to focus heavily on missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthis, who are allied with Tehran, have targeted Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Ayesha Siddiqa, a senior research fellow at King’s College London, noted that while Riyadh is pressing for stronger military engagement from its partners, Turkiye and Pakistan cannot afford to commit ground troops to Yemen.

Siddiqa linked the current diplomatic push to Asim Munir’s visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran last week. These movements coincide with Islamabad restricting overland border trade with Tehran while the United States maintains a naval blockade of Iran. Iranian authorities have stated they favor security solutions originating from within the region as they prepare for these ongoing negotiations.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering new strikes to break the diplomatic deadlock. Iran has refused to sign a peace agreement with Washington unless several of its demands are met. The United States and regional powers want unimpeded shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and international inspectors to assess Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran wants the US naval blockade lifted and a return to a memorandum of understanding agreed upon in June.

Trump has said he is left with a choice to finish the job by launching major strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure. This action could prompt Iran to strike at its neighbours, similar to attacks on US bases in Arab states earlier in the conflict. The US Department of State issued an order on October 21 for nonemergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to the Houthi threat.

Umer Karim, a researcher on Saudi foreign policy, said the talks are unlikely to reduce the risk of a renewed war between Iran and the US. He suggested the meetings are more concerned with securing Saudi Arabia and compelling Iran to reach a compromise. Analysts believe the Mecca signatories will likely try to minimise the impact on Saudi Arabia if war breaks out again, despite doubts about their leverage.