# Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish security chiefs go to Tehran to negotiate a regional security framework

The three members of the Makkah defense pact met Iran's top security official on Monday, with Saudi Arabia entering the talks directly, while Washington briefs the same governments on possible strikes.

- Published: 2026-10-29T05:12:07.061Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/2026-10-29/saudi-pakistani-and-turkish-security-chiefs-go-to-tehran-to
- Publisher: Polylog (Global desk)
- Section: geopolitics
- Sources: [South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372527/why-us-allies-middle-east-are-accelerating-direct-talks-iran), [OilPrice](https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Peace-Talks-Wont-Save-Oil-Buyers-From-100-Plus-Oil.html), [BFM.ru](https://www.bfm.ru/news/622285)

Muslim-majority allies of the United States in the Middle East have sped up talks with Tehran on a new regional security framework because they fear further fallout from the Iran war, [the South China Morning Post reported](https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372527/why-us-allies-middle-east-are-accelerating-direct-talks-iran). Saudi Arabia, which had not previously taken part directly, joined the talks on Monday and sent the king's younger son.

The delegation consisted of Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, [China's CGTN reported](https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-10-26/Senior-Saudi-Pakistani-Turkish-officials-in-Tehran-security-talks-1RySp2YapyM/share_amp.html). They met Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The three visiting countries signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in August, under which an attack on one counts as an attack on all, [according to Siasat](https://www.siasat.com/saudi-turkish-pakistan-meet-for-security-talks-in-iran-3565022/). The talks covered regional security, Israeli military activity, and developments in Palestine and Lebanon.

Washington is sending a different message. President Donald Trump denied reports that US negotiations with Iran had resumed and said recent contacts concerned humanitarian aid and medicines, [BFM.ru reported](https://www.bfm.ru/news/622285). At the same time, US officials have told regional allies to prepare for strikes after the midterm elections.

Energy analysts doubt that diplomacy will bring prices down quickly. [OilPrice](https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Peace-Talks-Wont-Save-Oil-Buyers-From-100-Plus-Oil.html) argued that the regional talks will not keep crude below $100 for buyers, because supply damage and risk premiums persist regardless of the diplomatic outcome.

## What this means

Riyadh's interest here is clear. Its refineries and export terminals sit within range of Iranian missiles, and the United States is planning an operation that Iran has said it will answer. A direct channel to Tehran reduces the chance that Saudi facilities become targets. The pact adds Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, and Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member, to that hedge. For investors, the channel that matters is the risk premium on Gulf infrastructure and sovereign debt. A credible regional understanding would lower it, while a US strike that triggers retaliation against Gulf states would raise it. The consensus treats Gulf states as US clients that follow Washington's lead. This week they negotiated with Washington's adversary while Washington briefed them on its war plans. The precedent is the 2023 Saudi-Iran normalization brokered by China, which reduced direct attacks between the two states but did not stop proxy fighting. The desk's read is that the framework will produce an understanding to limit attacks on each other's territory within months, but it will not stop a US campaign. The test is whether Iran spares Saudi facilities if strikes come after November 3.

## What to watch

- Any joint statement from the Makkah pact and Iran. Written commitments on attacks against energy infrastructure would matter to oil traders more than general language.
- Whether Saudi Arabia allows its airspace to be used for any US strike. A refusal would show Riyadh putting its own security ahead of the US alliance.
- Iran's response if strikes come. Retaliation that avoids pact members would show the framework has influence over Tehran.