Iranian officials meet with US and Yemeni representatives in Tehran

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey are meeting in Tehran to discuss regional security issues amid tensions with Iran. The three nations signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which aims to enhance cooperation on defense matters.

The meetings bring together senior officials, including Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Pakistani military chief Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. They will meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and security chief Mohsen Rezaei to discuss regional security concerns.

Analysts believe the visit may help prevent a new escalation between the US and Iran. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement has been active since its signing, but this meeting is considered high-profile due to the current tensions.

The talks are expected to address issues related to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have carried out missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Houthi rebels are allied with Iran, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

Pakistani army chief Asim Munir recently visited Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the current diplomatic push is linked to these visits. Islamabad has also restricted overland border trade with Tehran amid the US blockade on Iran.

Iranian authorities have stated that they prioritize regional security originating from within the region. The meetings are unlikely to reduce the risk of a renewed war between Iran and the US, which could lead to more regional turmoil.

The US is considering new attacks on Iran, which has refused to agree to any peace agreement unless several demands are met. The US wants international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to resume without impediments or attacks, as well as to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program and bring in international inspectors to assess Iran’s highly enriched uranium.

Israel also wants to overthrow the Islamic Republic, while Tehran seeks to lift the US naval blockade on its southern ports, which has halted crude oil exports and disrupted most trade.

Source: Al Jazeera