Regional delegations meet in Tehran to seek de-escalation amidst war threats

High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey arrived in Tehran to hold meetings aimed at averting renewed fighting between Iran, Israel, and the United States, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. These diplomatic efforts come as many in Iran prepare for the possibility of all-out war. The meetings represent a critical attempt to find stability in a region facing intense military threats.

Diplomatic efforts to avert conflict

The meetings in Tehran involve Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey’s intelligence service. These officials are meeting with Iran’s top security officials and negotiators to push for a deal between Tehran and Washington, the Foreign Ministry reported.

According to two regional officials, the discussions also include the war in Yemen and strikes by Houthi forces against Saudi Arabia. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters that while the agenda was not set, the participants would "undoubtedly address the most pressing threats to regional security." Saudi Arabia stated that the delegations hope to find ways to de-escalate tensions and promote regional stability.

These negotiations follow previous mediation efforts. A regional official noted that Qatari mediators were in Tehran on Sunday as part of ongoing de-escalation efforts. In June, Pakistan and Qatar helped broker an agreement to have Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, which ended a US blockade of Iranian ports and opened negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. However, the US broke that deal, leading to retaliatory Iranian attacks.

Escalation and political pressures

The push for diplomacy occurs against a backdrop of heightened military rhetoric. Baghaei confirmed that Tehran has not closed the window of diplomacy and is passing messages to the US via intermediaries. He noted that negotiations have stalled because US President Donald Trump and his officials repeatedly use the phrase "complete surrender," a demand he stated no Iranian accepts.

Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued warnings on Sunday, claiming intelligence suggests Iran or its proxies might attack ahead of the Israeli election to disrupt the vote. Netanyahu stated that if Iran attacks, they would "suffer disproportionate blows far greater than you can imagine." In response to these threats, Baghaei suggested that the "Israeli regime is highly skilled at carrying out false-flag operations."

Academic peace research in Tehran

While political tensions rise, Tehran is also hosting the 7th International Conference on Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Tehran. According to Pressenza, this may be the only permanent, advanced peace research institution in West Asia.

The conference coincides with what Pressenza describes as "USraeli" threats of "annihilating" bombings. The publication notes that while many Western peace research institutes have become associated with militarism or have changed their focus, Iran maintains active academic study in this field.

Dr Ali Akbar Alikhani, a professor at the Faculty of World Studies, is identified by the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (TFF) as a driving force behind this academic activity. TFF has been associated with peace research in Iran and the Peace Museum in Tehran for approximately ten years. This academic work includes recent research such as Alikhani's book, "Warm Peace: A Transition From Cold Peace."

This piece was generated automatically by an AI model from the sources listed below. It has not been reviewed by a human editor.

Sources

• Iran’s peace research and peace museum — Pressenza
• Key regional players meet in Iran to work for peace deal — Morning Star