Four Nations Extend Tehran Talks as Coalition Downes Houthi Barrage

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan agreed late Monday to extend high-level talks in Tehran aimed at stabilizing regional security. The joint statement marked the first direct contact between the four nations since the conflict expanded from US and Israeli strikes on Iran to include Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Hours after the agreement, the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a new wave of attacks early Tuesday. Colonel Turki al-Maliki stated that three ballistic missiles targeting the Eastern Province were shot down without causing casualties. He added that four drones heading toward the southern region were also destroyed.

The coalition said it had previously downed three additional drones over Riyadh and the south on Monday evening. The Houthis did not immediately comment on the latest interceptions or the diplomatic developments in Tehran.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi defence minister, led the delegation to Iran. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, and Ibrahim Kalin, Turkey’s intelligence chief. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, attended the meetings on the Iranian side.

A senior Pakistani security official told Reuters that the discussions focused on creating a regional non-aggression network. The agenda also included the ongoing US-Iran negotiations, Houthi strikes on Saudi targets, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US blockade of Iranian ports. The official said Munir, with the blessing of US President Donald Trump, presented a proposal intended to offer concessions to both Washington and Tehran.

The official noted that the signatories of the Mecca mutual defence pact, along with Qatar, could serve as guarantors if the proposal is accepted. Mohsen Rezaei commented that the visit demonstrated that American threats have little impact on the region. He described the current climate as a new and positive atmosphere.

Tensions have risen recently, with President Trump stating on Friday that the US might strike Iran again. A June interim peace agreement mediated by Pakistan and Qatar collapsed when fighting resumed between the US and Iran. The conflict then spread to the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, opening a new front in Yemen.

The Houthis seized strategic Red Sea coastal areas from Saudi-backed forces last month, triggering a Saudi counteroffensive. This month, an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300. The coalition said it retaliated by destroying five missile storage tunnels, four launchers, and a missile depot. Egypt’s parliament authorized military support for Saudi Arabia on Monday.