Asim Munir, Saudi and Turkish officials meet Iran leadership in Tehran

Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and the head of Turkey's National Intelligence Organisation, Ibrahim Kalin, were expected in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iran's leadership: the first high-level contact between Iran and the three states bound by the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement since Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensified.

Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Raid Krimli confirmed the visit in a post on X, saying Prince Khalid was leading the kingdom's delegation to meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. He named Munir and Kalin as participants.

Iran's deputy SNSC secretary, Ali Bagheri, also confirmed the meeting, telling state broadcaster IRIB that Munir had informed Rezaei during an earlier meeting of the decision by the three countries to send their senior officials to Tehran. Bagheri said Iran and the three countries could cooperate on regional security, drawing on what he called Iran's successful national security experience during the recent war.

Reuters first reported the visit, citing two sources it did not name, who said the talks would cover regional coordination. Reuters said it sought comment from the Saudi government's media office and Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations without an immediate reply. No official Pakistani statement had been issued on the visit, Independent Urdu reported. Express News reported that Munir had already left for Tehran.

Saudi Arabia's statement said the visit formed part of continuing efforts by Makkah agreement states to de-escalate between parties to the "ongoing crisis" and to promote dialogue and diplomatic solutions, in support of mediation by Qatar and Pakistan.

The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August; under its terms an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. Earlier this month their ministers held an emergency meeting in Riyadh and agreed to ensure the "immediate deployment" of troops and military capabilities in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia intercepted another wave of missiles and drones on Sunday, with fighting against Yemen's Houthis continuing.

Independent Urdu reported that the wider conflict has been destabilised by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, putting Saudi Arabia, a US ally, at the centre of pressure in the war.