Alliance Meets Iran Over Houthi Attacks

Thirteen people died when Houthi rebels struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport earlier this month, and more than 300 were wounded. That attack has forced a snap meeting in Tehran where officials from the Mecca Defense Alliance are trying to stop the bleeding. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey sat down with Iranian officials on October 26 to negotiate a path toward de-escalation.

The trilateral pact, which functions as a mutual defense agreement, is stepping in because the Houthis have intensified their missile campaigns against Saudi Arabia. The rebels are targeting airports and oil infrastructure while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. That closure has already reduced the flow of global oil and gas, which typically moves about one-fifth of the world's supply through that waterway.

A senior security official in Islamabad said the alliance’s primary goal is to convince Iran to use its influence to halt the Houthi attacks. To add pressure, the three nations are prepared to propose closer security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The official noted that Turkey already maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, so the trio could place this scenario on the table if Tehran refuses to act. "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. The Islamabad official added that while Iran might agree to control the Houthis, it is unlikely to soften its stance on negotiations with the United States regarding the ongoing war.

Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, was in Tehran last week and reportedly delivered a final warning to the Iranian government. Azaz Syed, an analyst based in Islamabad, described the current gathering as a last-ditch effort to reach a negotiated settlement. "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, viewed the meeting as a final attempt to prevent the resumption of war between Iran and the United States. "The immediate priority seems to be finding a way to prevent the resumption of war between Iran and the United States," Azizi said. He noted that the timing suggests regional countries fear diplomatic efforts are running out of time.

Tensions between Iran and Pakistan have also risen recently. Islamabad closed two border crossings between Baluchistan and Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan Province and suspended operating clearance for Mahan Air, an Iranian airline linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. In response, Iran halted the export of Liquified Petroleum Gas to Pakistan, a move that caused gas prices to spike. Pakistan imports approximately 7,000 metric tons of LPG daily from Iran.

Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly stated in a social media post that the visit underscores the alliance’s commitment to regional stability. Meanwhile, Iranian envoy Reza Amiri Moghadam said consultations are under way to address cross-border trade issues. He noted that several hundred trucks carrying LPG have been stuck at the Rimdan border for several weeks without being unloaded.

Rabia Akhtar, a professor of international relations at the University of Lahore, said the participants are focused on preventing further escalation. "Nobody at that table really benefits from another regional war," Akhtar said. She characterized the meeting as an attempt at regional crisis management rather than the creation of a new security architecture.

Azizi believes the meeting could reduce tensions temporarily by keeping communication channels open. He noted that the main problem remains unresolved because Iran wants credible security guarantees against renewed attacks, while regional mediators have limited ability to influence Washington's decisions.