Saudi-Led Alliance Holds Talks in Iran to End Houthi Attacks and Broader Conflict
Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan met in Tehran to de-escalate regional tensions and discuss the ongoing war with the US.
Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan traveled to Iran on Monday for negotiations aimed at ending Houthi attacks and de-escalating the broader regional conflict.
The high-level meeting marked the first contact between Tehran and the alliance tasked with defending Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam's holiest sites. The discussions were intended to pave the way for avoiding a full-scale resumption of war between the United States and Iran, which has drawn the kingdom back into Yemen's civil war, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
Oil futures saw a slight dip on Monday amid hopes that the talks could lead to a renewed peace deal.
The discussions are seen as a precursor to establishing a new regional security framework between Iran and the Mecca Defense Alliance. This alliance combines Pakistan's nuclear capabilities with Saudi Arabia's significant financial resources, as stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. "We have consistently emphasized that regional security can only be ensured by relying on the will and security considerations of the countries of the region," Baghaei said.
Baghaei also indicated that the participating nations would address "Israel’s expansionist policies, developments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the repercussions of US and Israeli military action against Iran."
It remains unclear how forcefully the alliance will confront Iran, especially since both Pakistan and Turkey have refrained from military responses to the ongoing Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including a recent drone incident that came perilously close to Mecca.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have continued their actions, reportedly targeting pumping stations on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline and Riyadh's airport. Egypt, though not a member of the Mecca pact, has committed its forces to assist in Saudi Arabia's defense.
Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's largest oil exporter, has been significantly impacted by the US-Iran war for nearly eight months. The kingdom's challenges have escalated with the Houthis' renewed attacks against the Riyadh-backed government in Yemen.
The Houthi rebels have pledged support for Iran during the conflict and recently launched an offensive to seize control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, further jeopardizing Saudi oil exports.
