Tehran talks aim to halt new Mideast war

Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey arrived in Tehran on Monday to meet with Iranian officials.

The gatherings aim to prevent renewed fighting in the ongoing war. The timing is sensitive. Israel holds an election on Tuesday, and the United States faces a midterm vote on Nov. 3.

Senior military and intelligence leaders led the discussions. Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi defense minister, attended alongside Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey’s intelligence service, also participated. They met with Iran’s top security officials to push for a deal between Tehran and Washington.

Yemen was also on the agenda. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have increased strikes against Saudi Arabia. This follows a July airstrike campaign that targeted Sanaa International Airport. That attack ended a 2022 ceasefire.

Esmail Baghaei, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters that the meetings would address the most pressing threats to regional security. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran supports any agreement that deepens regional cooperation. He added that such a deal should help Islamic countries use their shared resources.

Saudi Arabia issued a statement saying the delegations hope to find ways to de-escalate tensions. The kingdom aims to enhance regional security and promote stability. Qatari mediators also traveled to Tehran on Sunday. They worked in coordination with the United States to lower regional tensions.

Diplomatic efforts face hurdles. Baghaei said the United States appears to be persisting with unilateral demands. He noted that U.S. President Donald Trump and other American officials repeatedly use the phrase “complete surrender.” Baghaei said no Iranian accepts that term.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Iran or its proxies could launch an attack before the close of the election. He cited intelligence reports. “The (military) is ready both to defend and to strike,” he said in a video statement. “You will suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine.”

Tensions inside Israel’s government also surfaced. Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu and his military chief of staff clashed over an instruction to carry out an “action.” The army believed the move could trigger a resumption of the conflict. Netanyahu’s office later called the report “fake news.”

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X that reports of rifts between the political leadership and the military are “completely baseless and false.” He stated unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack before the elections. He added that Israel would respond with great force if Iran attacked.

In Tehran, Baghaei said Iran is not planning attacks. He remarked that the Israeli regime is highly skilled at carrying out false-flag operations. He affirmed that Iran will exercise its inherent right to self-defense to protect its sovereignty.

The fighting in Yemen continues to widen. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group fired ballistic missiles at military gatherings and weapons depots in Aden and Lahj provinces. He claimed the attacks destroyed equipment and caused casualties, though he provided no evidence. Residents in Houthi-held Sanaa and on the Red Sea coast reported a series of explosions. Houthi media said airstrikes targeted a solar power system and a water well in Sanaa. In the port city of Mokha, residents reported rockets hitting several buildings, including a hospital.