Delegations meet in Iran with Mideast region on edge over potential for renewed fighting

High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian officials aimed at averting renewed conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were scheduled to meet with Iran's top security officials to push for a deal between Tehran and Washington. The war in Yemen and Houthi rebel strikes against Saudi Arabia were also expected to be discussed, regional officials said.

The diplomatic push comes as tensions rise ahead of elections in both Israel and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that Iran or its proxies could attack ahead of Israel's election on Tuesday to disrupt the vote, citing intelligence. "The (military) is ready both to defend and to strike," Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding: "You will suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran has not closed the window of diplomacy but accused the U.S. of persisting in unilateral demands and using the phrase "complete surrender," which he said no Iranian accepts.

Israeli Channel 12 reported Sunday that Netanyahu clashed with his military chief of staff over an instruction the army believes could trigger a resumption of conflict with Iran. Netanyahu's office called the report "fake news," and Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X that reports of rifts between political leadership and the IDF concerning Iran are "completely baseless and false." Katz stated unequivocally that there has been no intention by Israel of initiating an attack on Iran.

Qatari mediators also traveled to Tehran on Sunday in coordination with the U.S. as part of de-escalation efforts, a regional official said. Pakistan and Qatar previously helped broker a June agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and opening nuclear negotiations, but the deal unraveled as both sides renewed attacks. Saudi Arabia said in a statement the delegations hoped to find "ways to de-escalate tensions, enhance regional security and promote its stability."

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal