Top officials from Mecca pact countries to meet Iranian officials in Tehran, two sources say

Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan - members of the Mecca Pact - will convene with Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkey's Intelligence Chief are expected to attend the talks.

This would mark the first high-level meeting between Iran and the three-nation bloc since escalations in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has recently intercepted a series of missiles and drones in response to the ongoing fighting. Earlier this month, Mecca Pact ministers held an emergency meeting in Riyadh, agreeing to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in Saudi Arabia.

The conflict has become a destabilizing factor in the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, making Saudi Arabia a key target in the broader war. Signed in August, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement obligates members to use any necessary means to protect each other's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internationally recognized borders. Turkey is still in the process of ratifying the agreement, while Pakistan approved it last week.