TEHRAN - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to continue talks on regional peace and security after senior officials met in the Iranian capital on Oct. 26.
The meeting brought together Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iran was represented by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
The four countries said they would keep the dialogue going and explore broader cooperation on peace and security. They did not announce a date or venue for the next meeting, according to reports by The Associated Press and Reuters.
Talks Focus on Iran, Yemen and the Strait of Hormuz
The agenda included the risk of renewed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, strikes by Iran-aligned Houthi forces against Saudi Arabia, the war in Yemen and threats to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia said the initiative was intended to open negotiating channels, reduce tensions and prevent another round of military escalation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that fresh attacks on Iran could destabilize the wider region and harm countries that are not directly involved in the conflict.
The diplomatic effort remains fragile. Pakistan and Qatar helped broker a June arrangement that was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and begin broader negotiations, but the agreement quickly unraveled as fighting resumed.
Shipping Attacks Keep Energy Markets Under Pressure
October has been the worst month for attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since global maritime-security incidents began being tracked in 2017, Reuters reported. Before the conflict, the waterway carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies.
Brent crude climbed above $117 a barrel last week as tanker attacks and strikes on Saudi infrastructure heightened fears of further supply disruptions.
Source: Vesti Baku