Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan Officials In Tehran For Last-Ditch Diplomacy, As US Prepares 96-Hour Strike Window
There are many indicators that the US and Israel could soon attack Iran again, with media consensus in the US pointing to the likelihood of a renewed bombing campaign after the midterm elections.
In the interim, regional countries are scrambling for a diplomatic breakthrough, seeking to stave off the next escalation round, given also that past Iranian retaliation has imposed a huge cost on America's Gulf allies.
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in Tehran for high level talks, the deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri, has confirmed Monday.
This includes Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani Army Commander General Asim Munir, and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin - who will engage the Iranian side on "regional security".
Notably, these three countries are signatories to the Mecca Defense Pact and are also allies of the United States, with Turkey being a NATO member.
Iran's Bagheri stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran's model of defense based on internal and domestic capabilities has become a successful model for building national security."
"On the other hand, Iran's strategic policy is to ensure regional security through regional countries and confront any foreign interference and influence, led by the American and Zionist regimes," he added.
Bagheri praised the "fruit of the heroic efforts and struggles of the armed forces and the Iranian nation" and expressed hope that Iranian resistance to US-Israeli aims would result in a "region with stability and peace and on the path of progress."
Reuters has cited a senior Iranian official who says the meeting was initiated by Pakistan.
Jason Brodsky, a hawkish think tank pundit, has reacted to the diplomatic scramble in Tehran:
The stories write themselves at this point. I would not be surprised to see a last minute call from regional countries to President Trump pleading for a delay in any military operation against Iran, citing that progress is just around the corner on negotiations or deal that will later fall apart.
Over the weekend, just prior to the Mecca Pact countries' delegations going to Tehran, Qatari mediators were also once again in the Iranian capital to "de-escalate regional tensions."
Senior officials from Iran, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have begun a four-way meeting in Tehran, hosted by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei. Participants include Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 26, 2026
Meanwhile, CNN is reporting that the White House has plans to relaunch major attacks on Iran, and that more American forces are being deployed to the Middle East, so that strikes against Iran could be carried out "within 96 hours of receiving" an order from the president.
According to that reporting:
Sufficient forces are now deployed in the region to carry out the potential attacks, the sources said. The scope of new US military operations would likely go beyond efforts to simply “mow the lawn” or maintain the status quo by striking radars, launchers and other Iranian assets that can be quickly reconstituted — as has been the case since Trump halted full combat operations earlier this year, the sources added.
“It will be a big effort,” one of the officials told CNN. That view has been echoed by other current and former US officials familiar with internal military planning discussions — some of whom say it is a question of when, not if, Trump will issue a go-order. They believe it could come any time before the end of the year, though most likely after the US midterm elections.
But it remains the that US administration has yet to define the end goal or 'mission accomplished' moment, now in month eight of what was supposed to be a "two to four-week" conflict. So far, escalation has tended to simply beget more escalation, and not an offramp.
It seem they all went to Iran to deliver the final threat. https://t.co/1Akhe5rHHT
— Ali (@MerruX) October 26, 2026
A major new bombing campaign would put immensely more pressure on Iran, but would do the same for America's Gulf allies, given they would probably face a huge wave of retaliation from the IRGC in the form of ballistic missiles and drones.