Iran and three members of the Mecca defence pact, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, have agreed to continue discussions after a high-level meeting in Tehran on Monday, according to an official Iranian statement carried by the Fars news agency.

The participants said they would work to strengthen cooperation among the four countries, with the talks centred on peace and security in the region.

The meeting was hosted by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Saudi Arabia was represented by Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Türkiye by intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

It is the first high-level contact between Iran and all three members of the alliance since the Houthis, the Iran-aligned group in Yemen, stepped up their attacks on Saudi Arabia last month.

The talks were initiated by Pakistan. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Munir proposed the joint meeting during his visit to Tehran last week, when he met President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Rezaei. Saudi officials said the visit is intended to reduce hostilities and support mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan.

Qatari officials also visited Tehran on Sunday. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed in August and treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all. Pakistan has ratified the pact, while approval in Türkiye’s parliament is still under way.

The diplomacy is taking place against a tense backdrop. Washington has pulled non-emergency staff and families out of Saudi Arabia, and US President Donald Trump has said it is “getting to be decision time” on striking a deal with Iran or returning to conflict, with reports suggesting any resumption of attacks could come after the November 3 midterm elections.

Iranian media have reported that Tehran told Munir it will not negotiate with Washington until its conditions are met, and Rezaei was quoted as saying enriched nuclear materials will remain in Iran. Pezeshkian, for his part, used the occasion to stress unity among Islamic nations.