Tehran Quadrilateral Meeting... Continuation of Talks to Enhance Regional Security

- Saudi Arabia looks to engage with crisis parties amid ongoing Qatari and Pakistani efforts

- Kremlin: Tamim bin Hamad and Bazaeian in Moscow... tomorrow Tuesday

Amid growing fears of military escalation in the region, Iran agreed on Monday with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey—the three parties to the joint Mecca Defense Pact—to continue talks to enhance cooperation, particularly in the field of regional peace and security.

The first-of-its-kind meeting in Tehran was attended by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Head Ibrahim Kalin, and Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaee.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, “The meeting could serve as a precursor to further work within the framework of achieving regional security.”

He added, “From our perspective, the region’s countries’ efforts to find mechanisms for regional security—or at least to consider them—based on their interests are commendable. This meeting can pave the way for further steps toward establishing security derived from the region itself, a topic we have insisted on for several decades. We emphasize that the region’s security can only be secured by relying on the will of its countries and taking their security considerations into account.”

He continued, “Events of the past two years, especially the last eight months, have proven that sustainable and reliable security in our region can only be achieved through building trust and cooperation among the region’s countries.”

Addressing Prince Khalid bin Salman, General Munir, and Mr. Kalin, he stressed Iran’s readiness “to take steps toward regional cooperation and resolving differences.”

The Iranian president called for “regional unity,” expressing hope that “the presence of representatives from important and influential Islamic countries at this meeting will contribute to enhancing regional unity and cohesion.”

While Iranian reports denied that the nuclear file was discussed at the Tehran meeting, a senior Pakistani security official stated that the meeting falls within efforts aimed at building a regional non-aggression network, and included discussions on US-Iran talks, the war in Yemen, the Strait of Hormuz, and the US sanctions imposed on Iranian ports.

Prior to the meeting, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit, along with representatives of the Mecca Defense Pact countries to Tehran, comes within the framework of continuing efforts by “Mecca Pact” countries to de-escalate tensions among the parties to the current crisis, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and support Qatari and Pakistani mediation efforts.

It stressed the importance of opening negotiation channels to prevent a return to military escalation in the region and pave the way for an agreement that ends the crisis, adding, “It achieves security and peace in the region and the world,” reiterating the pivotal role of “Mecca Pact” countries in stabilizing the region’s security and stability and working with all countries to ensure peace in the region and the world.

In this context, the Kremlin announced on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold two meetings with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Bazaeian in Moscow tomorrow, Tuesday.

Amid the US administration’s escalating pressure on Tehran, US officials told CNN that “it is likely that resumption of strikes against Tehran will occur after the midterm elections.”

They clarified that the strikes would not be limited to capabilities Iran can rebuild, such as missile platforms or radars, but would be “broader in scope than previous ones,” emphasizing that “forces deployed in the region are sufficient to launch strikes within 96 hours of receiving orders from President Donald Trump.”