Briefing

Mecca Pact and Iran agree in Tehran to keep talking

Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials met Iranian leaders in Tehran and agreed to continue dialogue on regional peace and security, without a ceasefire. CNN reported US forces could launch a new operation against Iran within 96 hours of Trump's order. Israelis voted in an election dominated by Benjamin Netanyahu's threats against Iran. Iraq kept its Al-Shaib crossing with Iran closed and a court ordered the arrest of a provincial council head who threatened civil disobedience.

Updated 2026-10-28 02:02 UTC

Stories in this briefing

Diplomacy & foreign policy

Mecca Pact, Iran officials meet in Tehran, agree to more talks

Senior officials from the Mecca Pact countries Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday and agreed in a joint statement to continue dialogue on regional peace and security…

Politics & government

Israelis vote as Netanyahu's reported Iran pressure roils race

Israelis voted on Tuesday in a parliamentary election dominated by Benjamin Netanyahu's Iran threats and reports that he pressed the military for action against Iran before the vote.

Military & security

Iran braces for new US-Israeli strikes as diplomacy intensifies

US forces in the Middle East could launch a new, possibly large-scale operation against Iran within 96 hours of an order from President Donald Trump, CNN reported…

Diplomacy & foreign policy

Iraq court orders arrest of Maysan council head over Iran crossing

Iraq has kept the Al-Shaib-Chazabeh border crossing with Iran closed, citing technical shortfalls and smuggling risks while Iraqi politicians point to US pressure.