Mecca pact powers meet Iran in push to avert wider war
Iran and representatives of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey agreed Monday to continue discussions on regional peace and security after talks in Tehran, Iranian state television reported, as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent renewed fighting across the Middle East. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The discussions covered efforts to avert further war and attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia. Iranian state television described the meeting as an initial encounter aimed at strengthening cooperation, particularly on regional security. The visit brought together the three members of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Saudi officials said the diplomatic initiative supported mediation led by Pakistan and Qatar.
A Pakistani security official told Reuters that participants discussed a regional non-aggression framework, US-Iran negotiations, Houthi attacks, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports. An Iranian official said Tehran’s nuclear program was excluded pending satisfaction of its conditions for ending the war. The diplomacy followed a visit by Qatari mediators on Sunday. Pakistan and Qatar previously helped broker a June agreement intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US blockade and launch broader negotiations, but that arrangement collapsed when attacks resumed.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article speaks of efforts to avert "further war" and says a June deal collapsed "when attacks resumed", but never says the war began with Israeli and US strikes on Iran. The only attacks it names are by the Houthis. A reader can come away thinking Iran and its allies are the side that started the fighting.
How we know
- Arutz Sheva / Israel National News reported“the outbreak of the war, which began with Israeli and US strikes against Iran and subsequently expanded to Saudi Arabia and Yemen”Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan hold high-level talks with Iran (opens in a new tab)
- Press TV reported“The war came to a halt after 40 days with a ceasefire”Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia hold security meeting in Tehran (opens in a new tab)
Military pressure continued alongside the talks. The Houthis claimed fresh attacks on Saudi pipeline infrastructure and Riyadh airport on Monday, without immediate Saudi confirmation. Egypt’s parliament separately authorised military assistance to defend Saudi Arabia. Iran's offer to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis was ignored Suggested articles Israel: Cyberattacks soar ahead of elections | i24NEWS IDF fears Iran confrontation could be used to influence Israeli elections - report | i24NEWS 'Israel is in existential danger,' Netanyahu shares AI image of nuclear blast over Tel Aviv ahead of elections | i24NEWS
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