Mecca Alliance Envoys Meet in Tehran to Halt Houthi Strikes

Officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey convened in Tehran on October 26 to negotiate a stop to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The trilateral Mecca Defense Alliance met with Iranian representatives to address escalating regional tensions and secure a path toward de-escalation. The gathering follows a sharp increase in missile strikes by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against Saudi airfields and oil infrastructure.

A senior security official in Islamabad stated that the primary objective is to persuade Iran to leverage its influence over the Houthis to halt the strikes. The official indicated that the alliance is prepared to propose closer security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel as a negotiating chip. "The key question is why Iran should comply? The answer is that Saudi Arabia may ask for support from Israel and that will potentially require them to join the Abraham Accords," the official said.

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Since Turkey already maintains diplomatic ties with Israel, the alliance may present this scenario if Tehran refuses to rein in the Houthis. The official added that while Iran might agree to manage Houthi behavior, it is unlikely to soften its stance in ongoing negotiations with the United States regarding the war.

The meeting takes place as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, a waterway that typically handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas flows. Earlier in October, Houthi rebels attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing 13 people and injuring more than 300. The rebels have also warned airlines against using Saudi airspace, prompting Saudi Arabia to launch counter-strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Analysts describe the Tehran talks as a final effort to prevent renewed conflict between Iran and the United States. Azaz Syed, an analyst based in Islamabad, noted that Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, visited Tehran last week to deliver a final warning to the Iranian government. "The three partners will ask for an end to Houthi attacks, of course, but the key message is the broader settlement," Syed said.

Hamidreza Azizi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the immediate priority is preventing the resumption of war between Iran and the United States. He characterized the meeting as a last-minute attempt to maintain diplomatic channels. "But the main problem remains unresolved: Iran wants credible security guarantees against renewed attacks, while the regional mediators have limited ability to influence Washington's decisions," Azizi said.