Delegations meet in Iran with the Middle East on edge over potential for renewed fighting

PBS, carrying AP's report, says Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey's intelligence service, met with Iran's top security officials and negotiators to push for a deal between Tehran and Washington.[1]Saudi Arabia said in a statement that the delegations hoped to find "ways to de-escalate tensions, enhance regional security and promote its stability."[1]NBC News reports that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the agenda was not set, but that the talks would "undoubtedly address the most pressing threats to regional security."[2]According to AP, citing two regional officials, the war in Yemen and strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia were also discussed[3]. AP says the four countries agreed Monday to continue talks on expanding cooperation among them[3], and that no details were given about a date or place for a future meeting.[3]AP also reports, citing a regional official, that Qatari mediators also traveled to Tehran on Sunday, working in coordination with the United States[1].ABC News reports that Israel's Channel 12 said Netanyahu and his military chief clashed over an instruction that the army believes could quickly trigger a resumption of the conflict with Iran[4]. According to ABC, Netanyahu's office later described the report as "fake news."[4] Defense Minister Israel Katz said, as quoted by ABC, "there has been no intention by Israel of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections in Israel"[4].