Senior defense officials from Makkah Defence Pact member nations—Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye—are scheduled to hold high-level talks in Tehran on Monday. Sources familiar with the diplomatic initiative confirmed that Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman will lead the Kingdom’s delegation alongside top Pakistani and Turkish representatives. The unprecedented meeting represents the first formal joint diplomatic contact between Iran and the three-nation defensive alliance. Crucially, the talks follow intensified regional security challenges, particularly escalating Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi territory. Consequently, regional diplomats view the Tehran summit as a critical effort to manage broader Middle Eastern tensions.
Read More: Türkiye submits Makkah defence pact bill to parliament
The diplomatic engagement comes after defense ministers from the Makkah Pact convened an emergency security meeting in Riyadh earlier this month. During those initial consultations, member states agreed to accelerate the rapid deployment of military assets and forces to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s territorial sovereignty. Over the weekend, Saudi air defense forces successfully intercepted another wave of incoming drones and ballistic missiles launched from Yemen. However, persistent cross-border hostilities continue threatening critical energy infrastructure and maritime shipping routes. Therefore, alliance partners seek direct diplomatic communication with Tehran to discuss regional coordination and mitigate expanding conflict risks.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye formally established the mutual defense alliance by historic Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August. Furthermore, the pact’s primary mandate commits member states to utilize all necessary means to eliminate external threats to territorial integrity. Regional security analysts note that expanding regional hostilities have placed severe pressure on Gulf security frameworks amid broader geopolitical conflicts. Consequently, the trilateral alliance aims to balance strong military deterrence with active diplomatic outreach.
Read More: Pakistan says Makkah defence pact has no secrets
Meanwhile, defense ministries across the participating capitals maintain high operational readiness as security coordination expands. Ultimately, international observers monitor the summit closely to see if diplomatic channels can successfully lower regional military tensions.