Saudi Defence Minister leads Makkah pact delegation to Tehran
<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/saudi-arabia/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/saudi-arabia/">Saudi Arabia</a>'s Minister of Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman was on Monday leading a delegation to Tehran, along with other officials from countries in the Makkah Agreement. Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rayed Krimly, said on X that other participants in the meeting include the Chief of Staff of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/pakistan/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/pakistan/">Pakistan</a>'s military, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the head of Turkish intelligence Ibrahim Kalin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Mr Krimly said the visit was aimed at de-escalation and finding diplomatic solutions to the crises in the region. The visit also aims to "emphasise the pivotal role of the Makkah Agreement states in restoring the security and stability of the region and working with all regional countries towards achieving that goal", Mr Krimly added. Qatari media reported that a delegation from the country was in Tehran on Sunday. The talks on Monday will be the first time that senior officials from the Makkah Agreement countries engage in direct talks with <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/iran/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/iran/">Iran</a> since the pact was signed in August and Yemen's Houthis began their escalation against Saudi Arabia in the same month. Fears have also grown of a return to war between the US and Iran, with both sides issuing renewed threats. US President Donald Trump last week said Washington may carry out another "little Epic Fury", using the military's term for the war on Iran. The timeline is unclear for when that may happen because Mr Trump said previously that he would not launch attacks before the US midterm elections on November 3. He also spoke of a "big beautiful agreement" as an alternative to renewed strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that indirect talks are continuing with the US through mediators Pakistan and Qatar. But he said Tehran was ready to resume fighting, while insisting that diplomacy was possible.