Four Nations Meet in Tehran to Negotiate Regional Security Pact Amid Houthi Strikes

Seven projectiles, consisting of three ballistic missiles and four drones, were intercepted by the Saudi-led coalition early Tuesday morning. The interception occurred as delegations from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkiye, and Pakistan concluded their first high-level meeting in Tehran since the conflict expanded beyond the initial strikes on Iran. The coalition reported no casualties from the attacks on the Eastern Province and the south of the kingdom. A separate wave of three drones was destroyed over Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia on Monday evening.

The four nations issued a joint statement late Monday confirming their intent to strengthen cooperation on peace and security. The gathering marked the first direct contact between these countries since the Mecca mutual defense pact was signed in August. Riyadh stated the Tehran visit aimed to open negotiating channels to prevent a return to military escalation. The meeting was proposed during a visit by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to Tehran the previous week.

Senior Pakistani security officials indicated the discussions focused on constructing a regional non-aggression network. Topics included US-Iran negotiations, Houthi attacks, the Strait of Hormuz, and the US blockade of Iranian ports. One official said Munir, operating with the blessing of US President Donald Trump, presented a proposal designed to offer concessions to both Washington and Tehran. The official suggested that if accepted, the Mecca pact signatories and Qatar could serve as guarantors for the arrangement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei attended the sessions. Rezaei characterized the visit as evidence that American threats have limited impact on the region, describing the current diplomatic climate as a new and positive atmosphere. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called the meeting a potential first step toward wider regional security arrangements. Saudi Arabia sent Prince Khalid bin Salman, Defense Minister and brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Turkiye was represented by intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

The talks occur while tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified. President Trump stated on Friday that the US may strike Iran again. This follows a resumption of fighting after an interim peace agreement brokered by Pakistan and Qatar in June. The conflict has widened as Iran-aligned Houthis opened a new front against Saudi Arabia, worsening Yemen's humanitarian crisis. Last month, Houthis seized strategic Red Sea coastal areas from Saudi-backed forces in a rapid offensive, prompting a Saudi counteroffensive.

Houthi forces have targeted Saudi infrastructure, including airports, ports, and oil facilities. An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, making it the deadliest strike on the kingdom in over a decade. On Monday, the Houthis claimed attacks on the Riyadh airport and crude oil pumping stations in western and eastern Saudi Arabia. The coalition said it retaliated by destroying five missile storage tunnels, four launchers, and a missile depot. Egypt's Parliament authorized its military on Monday to assist in defending Saudi Arabia.

The wider war has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher oil and petrol prices. The Houthis did not immediately comment on the latest interception figures provided by the coalition. The four nations agreed to keep the dialogue channel open to address the evolving security situation in the region.