Saudi Arabia is taking its diplomatic push directly to Tehran, as investors bet that talks can ease the regional conflict. Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met Iranian officials on Monday alongside senior Pakistani and Turkish representatives, Reuters reported.
Who was at the table? Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Türkiye’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, joined the meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The four countries agreed to keep talking about regional peace and security.
The aim is to reopen a negotiating channel. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit by representatives of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement countries supported mediation by Qatar and Pakistan, with dialogue and de-escalation the immediate priorities.
Markets are already pricing in some hope. Saudi shares joined a broader Gulf rebound on Monday, as the diplomatic push raised expectations of easing US-Iran tensions.
What matters next: Whether continued talks produce concrete commitments to reduce hostilities. An agreement to keep meeting gives diplomacy more room, but it is not yet a settlement.
