Iran security chief hails ‘very good discussions’ with Makkah pact countries

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has said that Iran, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have agreed that security in the Middle East should be ensured by regional countries without foreign interference.

Speaking after the first meeting of the four countries in Tehran, Rezaei described the discussions as “very good” and said they had created a positive atmosphere for regional cooperation.

“The outcomes we agreed on were that security in the region where we live should be endogenous, meaning it should be achieved by the countries themselves, and that we must prevent any kind of foreign intervention in this region,” Rezaei said.

The talks brought together delegations from Iran and the three countries associated with the Makkah defence pact.

Discussions focused on regional security, Israeli activities and developments in Palestine and Lebanon.

Rezaei said cooperation among the four countries could help address the crises facing the region, adding that regional states should have begun working together earlier.

He also said the visits by Turkish, Pakistani and Saudi delegations to Tehran demonstrated that US threats had failed to undermine regional engagement.

The Iranian official called on Israel to halt its attacks on Lebanon, southern Syria, the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmael Baghaei said the meeting could mark the beginning of a regional security framework based on cooperation among countries in the region.