Mecca Pact Envoys Arrive in Tehran to Halt Escalation Before US Midterms
Leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey visited Iran to propose a regional non-aggression network, aiming to secure a diplomatic path before the November 3 election.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Three senior military and intelligence officials from the Mecca defense pact arrived in Tehran on Monday to deliver a coordinated message to the Iranian leadership. The visit took place on the same day as the US midterm election was set for November 3, a timeline that heightened concerns about new military strikes by the United States and Israel.
The delegation included Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin. They met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. The three nations formed the Mecca military alliance earlier this year, creating a bloc of Islamabad, Riyadh, and Ankara.
Saudi Arabia stated the trip was designed to open negotiation channels and prevent a return to military escalation. A senior Pakistani official told Reuters that the talks centered on building a regional non-aggression network. The agenda also covered US-Iran relations, Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, the Strait of Hormuz, and the US naval blockade.
Munir presented a conflict resolution plan that would offer concessions to both Washington and Tehran. The three Mecca states and Qatar would act as mediators in this process. The official noted that US President Donald Trump had previously authorized Munir to pursue this diplomatic track.
Iran described the atmosphere of the meetings as very positive. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told state television that good discussions took place. He said a new atmosphere was emerging in the region and argued that West Asian security should be built by local countries without outside intervention.
Rezaei met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei the following day. Iranian state media reported that Khamenei called for protecting Iran's interests and maintaining Tehran's conditions for ending the war. The current state was described as neither war nor peace. These diplomatic contacts were framed by Tehran as proof that the US cannot isolate the Iranian regime.
The unified presence of the three nations serves as a show of force for the new alliance. Saudi Arabia has grown wary of Houthi attacks on its infrastructure. Under the Mecca agreement, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Egypt's parliament also agreed on the same day to provide military help to Riyadh and take all necessary measures to defend Saudi Arabia.
Babak Dorbeiki, a London-based political analyst, said the simultaneous visit signaled that the countries are acting as a bloc. He noted that the pact is primarily designed for deterrence rather than offensive war. The message can work in two directions, providing mediation while warning that continued escalation could change the bloc's position.
Saudi Arabia faces a dilemma between the costs of Houthi attacks and the risks of a wider war. Dorbeiki said a diplomatic solution is Riyadh's preferred route. Pakistan has spent months mediating between Washington and Tehran. Turkey, a NATO member, sent its intelligence chief rather than a defense minister, suggesting a cautious approach to supporting Iran against the United States.
Ali Asghar Shafieian, a media advisor to Pezeshkian, rejected the idea that the envoys presented an ultimatum. He told DW that the meeting demonstrated growing coordination among the Mecca states and that Iran remains part of regional diplomacy. Iran continues to prepare for potential conflict while maintaining negotiations, seeking an agreement that respects its national dignity.
