Iran does not intend to join the Mecca Pact, asserted Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, referring to the objectives of the quadrilateral meeting between Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia taking place today, Monday, October 26, in Tehran. "One of the most important issues of the meeting may be mediation between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni Houthi movement, as well as the management of regional developments," underlined Ardestani, who estimated that the issue of negotiations between Iran and the United States may also be raised during the consultations. Ardestani, analyzing the goals of the quadrilateral meeting between Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia in Tehran, stated that one of its primary pursuits could be undertaking a mediation initiative between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, as well as managing regional developments. Taking into account the multi-year conflicts between the two sides and their political, military, and economic consequences, efforts to de-escalate tension and prevent the expansion of conflicts could constitute primary objectives of the diplomatic consultations in Tehran.
Referring to military developments in Yemen and the shift in the balance of power in the country, he added: "In recent years, the Houthi movement has managed to place significant parts of Yemen under its control and resist attacks and the blockade imposed against it, with Saudi Arabia playing a leading role. Under this prism, it is not possible to evaluate the current balance of power in Yemen without taking into account the position and military strength of the Houthi movement. Developments in recent years have shown that resolving this crisis cannot be achieved exclusively through military means, but requires political and diplomatic initiatives."
"Saudi Arabia, as one of the wealthiest countries in the region, possesses significant economic and diplomatic power and, provided it changes its approach and moves toward understanding, can play a substantial role in reducing tensions. On the other hand, the Houthi movement has evolved into a major factor in Yemeni developments, and overlooking its role makes achieving a sustainable solution more difficult," said Ardestani, who clarified that, based on the above, one of the issues that may occupy talks between Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia is the method of managing regional disputes and creating appropriate conditions for reducing tension between involved sides in the Yemeni crisis. As he emphasized, such consultations, provided they are accompanied by the necessary political will, can contribute to converging stances and preventing further escalation of conflicts.
US–Iran negotiations also at the center
Subsequently, referring to the possibility of raising the issue of negotiations between Iran and the United States during the meeting, he noted: "Given prevailing conditions in the region and the importance of developments in relations between Tehran and Washington, it is likely that the issue of Iran–US negotiations will be raised, directly or indirectly, on the sidelines of these consultations."
"Every country participating in the meeting possesses its own diplomatic capabilities and channels of communication. Therefore, an exchange of views is likely to take place regarding ways to de-escalate tension between Iran and the United States, as well as the impacts of such a development on regional security," said Ardestani. The Iranian MP underlined that, during a period when the region faces a series of crises, political confrontations, and security challenges, dialogue among countries playing a major regional role can create conditions for greater mutual understanding and more effective management of disputes. For this reason, as he pointed out, the importance of such meetings must be evaluated within the framework of efforts to prevent the expansion of crises, strengthen the diplomatic path, and seek political solutions for settling regional conflicts. Finally, Ardestani made clear that Iran does not intend to join the Mecca Defence Alliance.
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