Tehran to Host High-Level Security Meeting to Discuss Regional Coordination

Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced on Monday that it will hold in Tehran a meeting that includes the Saudi defense minister, the Pakistani army chief and the Turkish intelligence chief, in a step the council described as "effective" toward building internal regional security.

Reuters earlier reported that senior officials from the countries party to the Makkah Mutual Defense Agreement — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan — would meet with Iranian officials in Tehran to discuss mechanisms for regional coordination.

The council said in a statement that it initiated the call for this meeting, expressing hope that the initiative will contribute to achieving stability and peace in the region. It added that Iran’s strategy rests on ensuring regional security and confronting any foreign intervention or influence.

The statement said the planned participants are Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and that they will meet with the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei.

The meeting comes at a time of anticipation over the possibility of renewed U.S. military operations against Tehran, and the agenda could include discussing the Houthi issue and potential steps to deter the threat Riyadh has reported.