Makkah alliance, Iran agree to continue dialogue

regional peace, security
tehran
Members of the Makkah Defence Alliance and Iran on Monday agreed to continue further dialogue in an effort to ramp up cooperation for regional peace and security after a high-level meeting in Tehran.
“The participants agreed to continue the dialogue to strengthen cooperation amongst the four regional countries, including for peace and security in the region,” said a statement issued by Iran’s Press TV after the meeting concluded. Regional tensions, the fallout from the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran and developments in Palestine and Lebanon were on the agenda, Press TV reported.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed the need to strengthen unity and cooperation among Muslim countries.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, with firm conviction and serious determination, is ready to take steps toward deepening regional cooperation, resolving differences and drawing on the shared capabilities of Islamic countries,” he said.
He noted that Tehran supported any understanding that contributed to strengthening regional unity, cohesion, security, and development.
Pezeshkian said Muslim countries could draw on their shared capabilities to offer the world a model of justice and development.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Major General Mohsen Rezaei welcomed senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as the talks began.
“The talks will focus on regional security, the fallout from military aggression, and support for Palestine and Lebanon,” Iranian media reported.
Pakistan was represented by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also participated in the meeting.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also in attendance.
Attacks by Yemen’s Houthis have spiralled in recent weeks, and rhetoric between Washington and Tehran has grown more heated. Both countries have also drawn up plans to restart the wider war, possibly after the US midterm elections on November ​3.
Monday’s planned talks are the first high-level contact between Iran and all members of the three-nation bloc since Saudi Arabia was drawn deeper into the conflict. Under the Makkah ​Joint Defence Agreement signed in August, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.