Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani delegations pressed Tehran to prevent renewed war

France 24 reports this was the first joint visit to Tehran by the 3 countries that formed a defence alliance in Mecca in August. The 3 delegations met President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei. Gulf News reports the Saudi foreign ministry described the visit on 26 October as an effort to back Qatari and Pakistani mediation. According to CBS, Qatari mediators had travelled to Tehran a day earlier, on 25 October, in coordination with Washington.

The Iranian side presented the meeting favourably on the night of 26 October. Gulf News quotes Rezaei calling the talks 'very good' and saying the 4 countries agreed that regional security must be provided by regional states. France 24 reports the parties also highlighted Israel's 4 zones of occupation in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank. CBS says Yemen and the Houthi attacks were on the table on 26 October as well. Iranian state television said the parties had decided to keep talking; the Saudi side issued no separate conclusion as of 26 October.

The talks on 26 October unfolded under the shadow of a US threat. Gulf News and Fox News, citing CNN, report that US forces could launch a large-scale operation against Iran within 96 hours of an order from Trump. That order could come after the 3 November midterm election. Gulf News says Bagheri Kani warned against a quick US deal before 3 November, and that Rezaei could accept an implementation window of 4 or 5 days instead of 7. CBS reports that Egypt's parliament on 26 October authorised Sisi to send troops to Saudi Arabia for defensive purposes. According to Fox News, Pezeshkian left for Moscow on the night of 26 October for the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit, with a meeting with Putin expected on 27 October.