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Mecca pact talks in Tehran could lay groundwork for regional security: Iran

Turkish FM Hakan Fidan (4th R) attends the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, established under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 31, 2026. (Turkish Foreign Ministry/Handout)
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Turkish FM Hakan Fidan (4th R) attends the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, established under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 31, 2026. (Turkish Foreign Ministry/Handout)
October 26, 2026 01:13 PM GMT+03:00

Iran said Monday that talks with senior Mecca pact officials from Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in Tehran would cover developments in Palestine and Lebanon and the fallout of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling the meeting a possible prelude to "endogenous" regional security.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at his weekly news conference that the three officials would meet President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei on Monday.

"As the respected deputy of the National Security Council also announced, Tehran is to host senior officials from Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia today. The Saudi defense minister, the Pakistani army commander and the head of Türkiye’s intelligence agency are traveling to Iran," Baghaei said.

"The initiative to hold this meeting was raised during Mr. Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran, and the Islamic Republic of Iran agreed to it," he added.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei responds to reporters during the weekly press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Tehran, on Feb. 10, 2026. (AFP Photo)
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei responds to reporters during the weekly press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Tehran, on Feb. 10, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Mecca pact meeting 'prelude' to regional security, Iran says

Baghaei said it was important that regional countries consider security mechanisms based on their own interests.

"Holding this meeting can be a prelude to shaping endogenous security, something we have insisted on for several decades, emphasizing that regional security must be ensured relying on the will and security considerations of regional countries," he said.

"The developments of the past two years, especially the last eight months, have shown that building trust and cooperation among regional countries will be possible," the Iranian spokesperson added.

"This is the first meeting; so it is natural that the agenda and its topics will be decided," Baghaei said.

"The most important issues threatening our region’s security, including developments in occupied Palestine and Lebanon, are among the topics that will be discussed at this meeting,” he noted.

"In general, such a meeting cannot be held without considering the consequences of the U.S. and Zionist regime’s military aggression against Iran and its repercussions for the security of the entire region. This will be one of the most important topics of the meeting," Baghaei added.

The photo, published by the Iranian news agency Fars, shows a Saudi C-130 Hercules aircraft at Mehrabad Airport that brought the Saudi delegation to Tehran. (Photo via Telegram/farsna)
The photo, published by the Iranian news agency Fars, shows a Saudi C-130 Hercules aircraft at Mehrabad Airport that brought the Saudi delegation to Tehran. (Photo via Telegram/farsna)

On the Saudi-Yemen conflict, he said the dispute should be resolved between the two countries and reiterated Tehran’s readiness to help.

"Military approaches make problems more complicated and cause extensive damage," Baghaei said.

Iran says US 'not serious' about talks

"The American side is not serious about negotiations," the Iranian official said. He recalled that Trump expressed support for talks shortly before U.S. strikes on Iran in June 2025."What do you call this? Do you see any goodwill in this approach?" he asked.

Baghaei said Iran never possessed or sought nuclear weapons and accused Washington of using allegations about its nuclear program to justify military action.

He said Tehran had received no new European proposal beyond a political statement and accused Britain, France and Germany of following Washington on the restoration of U.N. sanctions.

A campaign poster featuring Israeli Prime Minister and Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu alongside US President Donald Trump is displayed on a bus driving through Jerusalem on Oct. 26, 2026. (AFP Photo)
A campaign poster featuring Israeli Prime Minister and Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu alongside US President Donald Trump is displayed on a bus driving through Jerusalem on Oct. 26, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Israeli vote makes 'no difference,' Qatar pilots unresolved

"It makes no difference to us who, in these elections, takes the helm of a regime that has brought nothing but violence and massacres to our region," Baqaei said of Tuesday’s Israeli election.

He dismissed Netanyahu’s calls to topple Iran’s government as "empty threats" and a "sign of desperation."

He confirmed a Qatari delegation recently visited Tehran on bilateral ties and mediation.

On three Iranian pilots whose aircraft was hit in Qatar, Baghaei said, "Until we have evidence of their deaths or receive precise information and documentation, we assume that the country where their aircraft were hit must be held accountable."

He said Pezeshkian would travel to Russia on Monday night for a summit of gas-exporting countries.

The Mecca pact officials’ visit is the first such meeting, Baghaei said, with its agenda still to be set.

October 26, 2026 01:13 PM GMT+03:00
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