High-level diplomatic delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian officials aimed at preventing renewed military conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, according to two regional officials.
The diplomatic push unfolds as many inside Iran brace for a potential return to all-out war. Israeli and American leadership have sharpened threats in the run-up to pending elections in both nations, while leaders in Tehran have maintained a defiant posture.
According to two regional officials who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, the discussions in Tehran also addressed the war in Yemen and persistent strikes by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels targeting Saudi Arabia. An Iranian official speaking on condition of anonymity verified the arrival of the foreign representatives.
Addressing the high-level visit, Saudi Arabia released an official statement confirming that the envoys aimed to identify "ways to de-escalate tensions, enhance regional security and promote its stability." The diplomatic activity follows separate discussions on Sunday, when Qatari mediators traveled to Tehran to conduct talks in coordination with the U.S. as part of broader regional de-escalation efforts, a regional official noted.
Amid mounting concern over potential hostilities prior to Israel's election on Tuesday and the upcoming Nov. 3 midterm elections in the U.S., Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated over the weekend that Tehran remains open to diplomatic solutions. Baghaei noted that messages continue to be exchanged with Washington through intermediaries.
However, with official negotiations remaining stalled, Baghaei criticized Washington for persisting with unilateral demands. He specifically highlighted that President Donald Trump and other American officials repeatedly demand "complete surrender," a position Baghaei asserted no Iranian would accept.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated warnings on Sunday citing intelligence that Iran or its allied proxies might launch attacks to disrupt the country's tightly contested elections. "The (military) is ready both to defend and to strike," Netanyahu declared in a recorded video statement, warning enemies that "you will suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine."
Domestic political and military dynamics in Israel also showed signs of friction. Israel's Channel 12 reported Sunday night that Netanyahu clashed with his military chief of staff after instructing the army to carry out an "action" that military officials believed could rapidly reignite direct conflict with Iran. Netanyahu later dismissed the Channel 12 report as nonsense during an interview on Channel 14, while the Israeli military offered no immediate comment.
Meanwhile, Yemen has increasingly served as an expanding theater in the conflict involving Iran since February. Houthi insurgents have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia due to Riyadh's support for Yemen's internationally recognized government. Early Monday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that the group launched ballistic missiles targeting military gatherings and munitions depots used by Saudi-backed government forces across Aden and Lahj provinces.
Saree asserted that the missile strikes caused casualties and destroyed military equipment, though he provided no evidence to corroborate the claim. The strikes could not be independently verified.
The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the claims.
Associated Press journalists Victoria Eastwood and Fatma Khaled in Cairo, Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv, Israel, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this story.
