Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan–the three members of the Mecca Defense Alliance–traveled to Tehran and met on Monday in a joint meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. “The high-ranking officials agreed to continue talks aimed at strengthening cooperation among the four regional countries, including in the field of peace and security,” reported a press statement issued after the meeting. The delegations were lead by Saudi Defense Minister Khlaid bin Salman, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, with Mohsen Rezeai, the Iranian security chief, serving as the host.

Pezeshkian, with Rezeai at his side, stressed the need for Muslim nations to stand together against threats targeting their peoples and deepen cooperation to resolve regional differences, reported IRNA. “Any understanding reached in these meetings that leads to stronger unity, cohesion and regional cooperation will receive the firm and comprehensive support of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Pezeshkian said, emphasizing that countries must focus on common ground and prevent differences of opinion from obstructing the shared interests of regional nations,” he added.

Ali Bagheri, the deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced prior to the meeting that the senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey would be in Tehran as part of efforts to implement the idea of endogenous security in West Asia. The purpose of these senior officials’ trip was consultation with Rezaei regarding regional security, he stressed.