Tehran talks held as regional powers push to avert a new Iran war — but no deal announced

Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye met Iran's security chief in Tehran on Monday, Bloomberg reported, in a joint push to defuse tensions and breathe new life into talks aimed at preventing a broader war in the Middle East.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin held talks with Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to reports of the visit. It was the first official visit to Tehran in more than a year by the Saudi defence minister, Bloomberg reported, and the first time the three members of the Mecca defence pact — signed in August — have met Iran jointly.

Iran's Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, told state television that the meeting could serve as a prelude to further steps toward a regional security framework, according to Press TV as carried by Aletho News. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a Monday press conference that the initiative reflected efforts to explore security mechanisms based on the region's own interests.

The meeting followed a weekend of shuttle diplomacy. Qatari mediators were in Tehran on Sunday in an effort coordinated with Washington, Reuters reported, and Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that there would be no U.S. strike that day — a remark that covered Sunday only. Trump later said talks would begin Monday afternoon after appeals from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran, according to CNN as reported by JustEarthNews.

No breakthrough was announced. Reports of the Tehran meeting noted that Houthi missile fire at Saudi Arabia continued as the delegation arrived and that no Yemen concession had been agreed. CNN has reported that U.S. Central Command has drawn up expanded strike options awaiting White House approval, possibly after the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, and Israel votes on Tuesday.

For Canadians, the stakes run through the gas pump. Brent crude fell 1.4% to $115.02 a barrel on Monday, JBizNews reported, after closing Friday at its highest level since April amid fears of renewed fighting. Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz — through which a large share of the world's seaborne oil passes — would push Canadian gasoline prices higher; a durable de-escalation would do the opposite.

The question now is whether Monday's meetings produce anything more than a pause — and whether the U.S. signals a decision before or after the midterms.