Iran, Saudi, Turkiye and Pakistan agree to more talks amid Houthi attacks

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkiye and Pakistan have agreed to continue discussions for regional "peace and security" as the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen stated it had intercepted another barrage of missiles and drones fired by the Houthis at the kingdom.

Key points

• Iranian state media published pictures of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, attending the meetings.
• Early on Tuesday, coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki remarked three ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis aimed at Saudi Arabia's Eastern province had been intercepted.
• The discussions came as tensions between Washington and Tehran have sharpened lately, with Trump saying on Friday the US may strike Iran again.
• Earlier on Monday, the Houthis asserted another attack on the Riyadh airport as well as crude oil pumping stations in the west and east of Saudi Arabia.
• The coalition remarked it had downed three more drones over Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia on Monday evening.

In practice, the discussions in Tehran on Monday were the first high-level ‌‌contact between Iran and the three nations – which signed the Mecca mutual defence pact in August – since a war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran additionally spread to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

In a joint statement issued late on Monday, the four countries "agreed to continue the dialogue to strengthen cooperation amongst the four regional countries, including for peace and security in the region", according to Iranian state media.

Early on Tuesday, coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki remarked three ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis aimed at Saudi Arabia's Eastern province had been intercepted. There were no casualties. Four drones headed towards the kingdom's south were additionally shot down, he stated.

Meanwhile, the coalition remarked it had downed three more drones over Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia on Monday evening. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia remarked the visit to Tehran was meant to open negotiating channels to "prevent the return of military escalation". The kingdom sent Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, a younger brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Pakistan sent its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkiye sent its intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin.

In practice, a senior Pakistani security official informed the Reuters news agency that the negotiations focused on building a regional nonaggression network. The official remarked the agenda additionally covered negotiations between the United States and Iran, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports.

Another Pakistani official informed Reuters that Munir, with US President Donald Trump's blessing to pursue diplomacy, had presented Iran with a proposal that would offer something to both Washington and Tehran. The agency remarked the official did not provide details.

Notably, the states in the Mecca pact, along with Qatar, could act as guarantors if the proposal was accepted, the official remarked.

Rezaei, the Iranian security chief, meanwhile remarked the visit demonstrated that US "threats have little impact on countries around the world". He additionally spoke of a "new and positive atmosphere" in the region.

Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had remarked earlier that the gathering, proposed when Munir visited Tehran last week, could be a first step towards regional security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the discussions came as tensions between Washington and Tehran have sharpened lately, with Trump saying on Friday the US may strike Iran again.

Mediation led by Pakistan and Qatar had produced an interim peace agreement in June, but fighting between Iran and the US shortly resumed. Conflict then flared between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi Arabia, opening a new front and deepening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

In practice, the Houthis seized strategic areas along Yemen's Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed administration forces in a lightning offensive last month, prompting a counteroffensive. Saudi Arabia has since intensified its strikes on the group.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have repeatedly struck Saudi airports, seaports and oil facilities. An attack on King Khalid international airport in Riyadh this month, the deadliest on the kingdom in more than a decade, killed at least 13 individuals and wounded more than 300.

Earlier on Monday, the Houthis asserted another attack on the Riyadh airport as well as crude oil pumping stations in the west and east of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition remarked the missiles were intercepted and destroyed.

It additionally stated it introduced retaliatory attacks, destroying five tunnels employed to store ballistic missiles, four missile launchers and a missile depot.

In practice, the wider war has additionally restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driven up fuel costs.

Egypt, a major financial and political partner of Saudi Arabia, has additionally moved closer to the fight. Its parliament on Monday authorised the military to support defend the kingdom.

Taken together, the developments around iran, Saudi, Turkiye and Pakistan agree to more talks amid Houthi attacks point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.