Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan plan Tehran talks as Ankara engages European powers to prevent further regional escalation
The Makkah Defence Alliance’s planned engagement with Iran has challenged claims that the emerging security partnership was established to isolate or confront Tehran, with recent diplomatic moves by Türkiye and other participating countries pointing instead to dialogue and efforts to prevent further regional escalation.
Senior officials from Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are expected to visit Iran for talks on regional security, Anadolu Agency reported on Monday, October 26, 2026.
A source in the Turkish government also confirmed the development to Muslim News Nigeria, saying the diplomatic efforts reflected Türkiye’s drive to prevent a fresh attack on Iran by broadening regional and international engagement.
The source’s account comes amid claims that the Makkah Defence Alliance was established to strike Iran and Yemen’s so-called “resistance axis” against Israel.
The source’s explanation, however, points to a different direction, with Türkiye working to bring more regional and European countries into diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing another military escalation.
The planned visit follows a meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul on Friday, October 23, where Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, collectively referred to as the R4, engaged with the United Kingdom, Germany and France, known as the E3. Italy also participated in the discussions.
The expanded diplomatic format, bringing together the R4, E3 and Italy, reflects efforts to build broader international support for de-escalation amid tensions involving Iran.
Speaking after the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said participants agreed that another attack on Iran could widen the conflict across the region.
“We all agree that a renewed attack on Iran would truly lead to a further spread of war and conflict in the region,” Fidan said, according to Anadolu Agency, adding that dialogue and diplomacy represented the most appropriate path forward.
Fidan also said military intervention in Iran was not a solution, stressing the need to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
Makkah Defence Alliance members to meet Iranian leaders
Iranian official Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, confirmed that senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, members of the Makkah Defence Alliance, would visit Tehran to discuss regional security and promote a regional security framework in West Asia.
The expected delegation includes Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir. Turkish security sources told Anadolu that Ibrahim Kalin, head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organisation, would also attend.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy Raid Krimly confirmed the planned visit in a post on X, saying the delegation would meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
According to Krimly, the visit aims to ease tensions amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis, promote dialogue and diplomatic solutions, support mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan, and strengthen regional security and stability.
The planned engagement signals an effort by the participating countries to maintain communication with Tehran despite heightened regional tensions.
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