Saudi, Pakistani, and Turkish leaders gather in Tehran to stop war from restarting

Tehran is hosting high-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey on Monday, with the goal of preventing the Iran war from flaring up again. The talks, announced by Iran's Foreign Ministry, involve senior security officials and negotiators from all four nations. The timing is tense, coming just days before elections in Israel and the United States, and amid fears that all-out combat could return.

The primary objective is to broker a deal between Tehran and Washington. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin are leading the push. They joined the discussions after a June agreement, which involved Pakistan and Qatar, collapsed when both sides resumed attacks. That earlier deal had aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, but it failed to hold.

Regional security remains the central topic. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the agenda was not fixed but would address pressing threats. Saudi Arabia said in a statement that the delegations hope to find ways to de-escalate tensions and promote stability. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian added that Iran supports agreements that deepen regional cooperation and allow Islamic countries to better use shared resources.

The conflict in Yemen has become a wider front, with Houthi rebels striking Saudi Arabia in response to its support for the Yemeni government. In July, airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport broke a 2022 ceasefire. On Monday, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed ballistic missiles hit Saudi-backed forces in Aden and Lahj provinces. He said the attacks destroyed equipment and caused casualties, though the Associated Press could not independently verify these reports. Residents in Houthi-held areas reported explosions, and Houthi media cited strikes on a solar power system and a hospital in Mokha.

The Saudi-led coalition responded by claiming an operation destroyed five missile tunnels and four launchers in Houthi-controlled territory. In Cairo, Egypt's parliament approved President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's request to send military support to Saudi Arabia to defend against the Houthi attacks. This marks a formal step in Egyptian involvement in the regional defense effort.

Tensions in Israel remain high. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Iran or its proxies might attack before the election to disrupt the vote. He claimed intelligence supported this view and stated that the military is ready to strike. However, Channel 12 reported a clash between Netanyahu and his military chief over a proposed action that the army feared could trigger a new conflict. Netanyahu's office called the report fake news, and Defense Minister Israel Katz insisted there was no rift and no intention to initiate an attack before the elections.

Baghaei responded to the Israeli warnings by noting that Israel is skilled at false-flag operations. He affirmed Iran's right to self-defense to protect its sovereignty. Qatari mediators also arrived in Tehran on Sunday, coordinating with the United States to help de-escalate tensions. The diplomatic efforts continue as both sides exchange messages through intermediaries, though Baghaei noted that the U.S. is persisting with unilateral demands that include phrases about complete surrender, which he said no Iranian accepts.