Middle East — 2026-10-28

Saudi Arabia Sends Defense Minister to Tehran for Makkah Pact Ceasefire Talks With Iran

BLUFA regional ceasefire with a Hormuz reopening timeline is very unlikely by November 11, as Tehran has conditioned any pause on Washington's approval, which Riyadh and its partners cannot deliver.

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman led a delegation to Tehran on Monday with Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence director Ibrahim Kalin, and Iranian state media said the parties agreed to continue talks 12. Regional sources told The National the talks made no clear headway: Iran said it lacked leverage over the Houthis and asked the visitors to press Washington to accept a two-week regional pause in exchange for gradual reopening of Hormuz 2. Israel Hayom's Gulf diplomatic sources claimed Khalid brought $1 billion for the Houthis, which a Saudi official did not confirm and Riyadh's stated position rejects 3. Hours afterward, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted five ballistic missiles and four drones launched by the Houthis 2.

Analysis
Confidence is low: regional sources describe no clear headway, Riyadh publicly rejects a new ceasefire, and no second round is scheduled. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are very unlikely to announce an agreed regional ceasefire or pause with a timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz by November 11. Tehran ties any pause to Washington's approval, so Riyadh, Islamabad and Ankara cannot deliver one without the United States, whose president has threatened renewed strikes after the November 3 midterms. The Houthi salvo hours after the meeting, and their demand that Riyadh lift its air blockade first, mean Iran's claimed lack of leverage remains untested. Sourcing is thin, since the two National pieces share one regional pool and the $1 billion Houthi payment rests on unnamed Gulf sources. Iran may be stalling to extract US concessions, while the talks mainly signal Saudi distance from Washington. Energy traders and Gulf airlines should keep Red Sea and Yanbu contingency routing and expect further conference cancellations unless a timeline is announced.

4 sources

Saudi Defence Minister leads Makkah pact delegation to Tehran in major diplomatic push - The National
Inside Tehran talks: Iranians link Houthi de-escalation to US approval of regional truce - The National
Saudi Arabia reportedly offers Houthis $1 billion in Iran-brokered deal to halt attacks - Israel Hayom
Saudi Arabia Sends Defence Minister to Tehran for Makkah Pact Talks - House of Saud