Mecca pact nations hold talks with Iran to prevent renewed Middle East war

France 24 reports that the officials flew to Iran as part of efforts to "de-escalate between the parties to the current crisis", a Saudi foreign ministry statement said.[1]It was the first joint visit to Tehran by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey since they formed a defence alliance in Mecca[1] in August, the outlet says.According to Reuters, as carried by US News, Saudi Arabia was represented by Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkey by intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin[2]. Al Jazeera reports that under the pact, an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.[3]France 24 reports that the meeting ended without concrete announcements, with the various parties saying they "agreed to continue discussions" according to Iranian state media.[1] The New Arab quotes Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, as saying security in the region "should be achieved by the countries themselves"[4].Al Jazeera says the talks were the first high-level contact between Iran and all members of the alliance since Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi armed group escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia last month.[3]Al-Monitor reports that US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington "may do another little Epic Fury"[5]. According to France 24, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it was "essential to stop any escalation" in the Middle East.[1]