Khalid bin Salman leads Saudi, Pakistani, and Turkish push in Tehran to halt new war

Regional tensions have risen sharply as election cycles approach in key Western and Middle Eastern powers. High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey are currently in Tehran for meetings designed to prevent renewed fighting in the Iran war, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey’s intelligence service, met with Iranian security officials and negotiators. The group aimed to secure a deal between Tehran and Washington. Two regional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the war in Yemen and strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia were also on the agenda.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that the meeting agenda was not pre-set. He stated the talks would undoubtedly address the most pressing threats to regional security. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during the talks that Iran supports any agreement that deepens regional cooperation and makes greater use of the shared resources of Islamic countries.

Saudi Arabia issued a statement saying the delegations hoped to find ways to de-escalate tensions and promote regional stability. Qatari mediators also traveled to Tehran on Sunday to work in coordination with the United States. A regional official said this effort is part of broader de-escalation measures.

Pakistan and Qatar previously helped broker an agreement in June. That deal aimed to have Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and end a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. It also opened negotiations on a broader settlement regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The arrangement unraveled quickly as both sides renewed attacks.

With Israel's election scheduled for Tuesday and the U.S. midterm election on Nov. 3, diplomatic pressure has increased. Baghaei said over the weekend that Iran had not closed the window of diplomacy. He noted that messages were being passed to the United States through intermediaries.

Baghaei criticized the U.S. for persisting in unilateral demands. He said U.S. President Donald Trump and other American officials repeatedly use the phrase “complete surrender.” Baghaei stated that no Iranian accepts that condition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated a warning on Sunday that Iran or its proxies could launch an attack before the close election to disrupt the vote. He cited intelligence for this concern. “The (military) is ready both to defend and to strike,” he said in a video statement. “You will suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine.”

Israel’s Channel 12 reported Sunday night that Netanyahu and his military chief of staff clashed over an instruction to carry out an action that the army believes could trigger a resumption of conflict. Netanyahu’s office later described the report as “fake news.” Defense Minister Israel Katz said reports about rifts between the political leadership and the IDF are baseless. He stated unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack before the elections.

In Tehran, Baghaei said the Israeli regime is highly skilled at carrying out false-flag operations when asked if Iran was planning attacks. He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right to self-defense to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yemen has become a widening front in the conflict that began in February. The Houthis have increasingly launched attacks on Saudi Arabia because it supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The conflict intensified after forces from the recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport in July. That strike shattered a 2022 ceasefire deal.

Early Monday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the rebel group fired ballistic missiles at military gatherings and weapons depots in Aden and Lahj provinces. He claimed the attacks destroyed equipment and caused casualties but provided no evidence. The Associated Press could not independently verify the information. Residents in Houthi-held Sanaa and on the Red Sea coast reported a series of explosions. Houthi media said airstrikes targeted a solar power system and a water well in Sanaa. In the port city of Mokha, residents said rockets hit several buildings, including a hospital. Houthi-run al-Masirah channel also reported strikes in Saada and southwestern Taiz province. The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said an operation in Houthi-controlled territory destroyed five tunnels used for storing ballistic missiles, four launchers, and other missile storage. Egypt’s parliament approved a request from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia to help defend against Houthi attacks on Monday.