Iran accused the United States of undermining diplomatic efforts by confusing negotiations with the imposition of terms, as senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye met Iranian leaders in Tehran to explore ways to prevent another round of regional conflict.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran remained committed to diplomacy and had never closed the door to negotiations, but Washington was not demonstrating a serious commitment to a settlement. The talks come amid continued US pressure on Iran through a naval blockade and sanctions, with Washington maintaining that President Donald Trump will decide whether to resume military action.
The meeting in Tehran brought together Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior security officials. The discussions focused on regional security, the US blockade of Iranian ports, the need to restore unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to halt Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The four countries agreed to continue discussions, but no formal ceasefire or timetable for further talks was announced. Iran has insisted that the US blockade must be lifted for a deal to be possible, while Washington is seeking restrictions and international inspections of Iran’s enriched uranium.
The diplomatic push is unfolding alongside mounting security risks across the Gulf and the wider region. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said it had received third-party reports of a vessel on fire 63 nautical miles southeast of Iraq’s al-Faw, adding to concerns over maritime safety as disruption around the Gulf’s vital shipping routes persists.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that further escalation involving Iran and Gulf countries could have devastating consequences. Egypt said it was maintaining daily contacts with Tehran, Washington and regional partners in an effort to avert another full-scale military confrontation.
Trump, meanwhile, has defended the war against Iran, saying Tehran started the conflict and dismissing an earlier ceasefire as a waste of time. He has said he would not launch further attacks before the US midterm elections next Tuesday, although military options have been presented to him, according to reporting from Washington.
The US has continued to signal that sanctions and the naval blockade are weakening Iran, with officials saying the next decision rests with Trump. Tehran’s regional outreach, including contacts with Qatar and the meeting with the three Mecca pact countries, reflects an effort to build support for a diplomatic solution while preparing for the possibility of renewed confrontation.
Oil prices eased on Monday as regional diplomatic efforts tempered concerns about supply disruptions, although Brent crude remained near a six-month high after attacks on Saudi Arabia. Brent futures fell 0.57% to $115.15 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude declined 0.43% to $101.32.
Security concerns also extended to Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted three Houthi ballistic missiles targeting the Eastern Province and four drones heading towards southern Saudi Arabia. The US Embassy in Riyadh renewed a security alert advising non-emergency government employees and their families to leave the kingdom, citing risks from Iranian-backed Houthi missile and drone attacks and warning of possible airport attacks, airspace closures and flight disruptions.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government said its forces had carried out 1,276 operations against Houthi positions in 24 hours, claiming to have neutralized about 382 fighters. Houthi-affiliated media, meanwhile, reported air strikes by government forces on Mocha city and its port in Taiz province.
The conflict’s wider regional consequences were evident in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli artillery shelled several towns in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. Separately, UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned that Israel’s military operation in Hebron, which has displaced more than 2,000 Palestinians, raised serious concerns about ethnic cleansing.
A UN commission of inquiry also accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied West Bank, including extermination, persecution, torture and sexual violence. Israel has not responded to the allegations in the material provided.
