Saudi defence minister leads Tehran talks aimed at easing regional tensions

Riyadh | 26-10-2026 - Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is leading the Kingdom’s delegation to Tehran on Monday, October 26, for talks aimed at reducing regional tensions, according to Saudi Gazette. Representatives of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye are taking part in the visit under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.

The delegation is scheduled to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saudi Gazette reported. The supplied reports do not provide an outcome from those meetings or announce any agreement resulting from the visit.

Talks to support mediation

Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Dr. Rayed Krimly announced the visit in a statement on X, according to Saudi Gazette. Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish National Intelligence Director Ibrahim Kalin are also part of the delegation.

Krimly described the trip as part of continuing efforts by the agreement’s member countries to ease tensions among parties involved in the regional crisis and encourage diplomatic solutions. He said the meetings would also support mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan, the newspaper reported.

According to Saudi Gazette’s account of his statement, Krimly stressed the participating countries’ commitment to working with states across the region to pursue de-escalation and peaceful solutions. His comments presented regional security and stability as central objectives of the visit.

The National separately reported that Iran said the meeting with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye could strengthen regional security cooperation. That assessment describes a potential benefit of the discussions rather than a confirmed result.

Diplomacy amid reported security threats

The Tehran visit comes amid further reports of threats to Saudi infrastructure. In its regional live coverage, The National reported that the Houthis said they had attacked Saudi oil pumping stations and Riyadh airport. The supplied material does not independently establish whether those claimed attacks struck their targets or caused damage.

The National also reported that the United States had instructed its staff not to use Saudi airports without special authorisation. Its coverage listed a visit by the US Central Command chief to the Strait of Hormuz, but the supplied extract gave no further details of that visit.

Qatar has also pursued direct diplomatic contact with Iran. According to The National, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said a Qatari delegation had visited Tehran for mediation. That reported contact accompanies the Saudi-led discussions, which Saudi Gazette said were intended to support Qatari and Pakistani mediation efforts.

Separate energy-security announcement

In a separate development on Monday, Saudi Gazette reported that Saudi Arabia and Singapore announced plans for a crude oil storage arrangement at Singapore’s Jurong Rock Caverns. Operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2027.

The proposed arrangement is intended to help Singapore manage potential supply disruptions and strengthen Saudi crude supply chains across Southeast Asia, according to Saudi Gazette. The report did not link that announcement to the Tehran negotiations.

Sources: Saudi Gazette; The National.