Did you know that Truthout is a nonprofit and independently funded by readers like you? If you value what we do, please support our work with a donation.

The first of two elections that many believe are the final bell before all out war is resumed against Iran is now complete. Although it seems likely that the efforts to cobble together a governing coalition in Israel, if that is even possible, will take weeks, the American midterms are expected to be the last milestone before the United States and Israel launch a massive attack on Iran.

There is no doubt that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is almost bursting with anticipation of the bloodshed to come. Donald Trump, as always, seems unsure of how to proceed, but seems very uncomfortable with the situation as it stands, while also being unwilling to make the concessions necessary to end this futile, destructive war he started for no good reason.

Iran can do little to deter an American attack, if that is what Trump decides to do. But it can retaliate with devastating consequences, which will be felt by its Gulf Arab neighbors, Israel, and the global economy.

That is why the countries of the newly created Mecca Pact — Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye — took the dramatic step of meeting Iranian officials in Tehran.

Iran trumpeted the meeting as demonstrating the seriousness with which the Sunni Muslim states take the Islamic Republic, meeting in the Iranian capital rather than in a third country.

Senator Briefed on Trump’s Iran War Plans Warns of “Devastating Escalation”

Saudi Arabia said the meeting was aimed at mediating between the United States and Iran, but there is no evidence the United States had any part in the planning of this meeting. Indeed, the indications are the opposite; one purpose of the confab was to establish regional dialogue specifically on security matters.

Participants included Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir, Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Turkish Director of National Intelligence Ibrahim Kalin. They met with Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei.

The fact that the meeting included leaders of the countries’ respective militaries indicates that the description of the meeting — that it was to deal with regional security — is likely accurate.

And, while little has been made public about the substance of the meeting, it also seems fair to say that there was little progress that could have been made on the major issues—the war with U.S. and the ongoing battles between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni Ansar Allah.

Little Room for Negotiations

Regarding Ansar Allah, Saudi Arabia was feeling Iran out to see if they would intervene with the Yemeni fighters whom the Saudis have been unable to defeat.

But Iran doesn’t have much reason to do so. While they could benefit from pulling the Saudis away from the American war effort, the compromises Tehran would have to make are far too great.

Reports out of Israel state that the Saudis offered Ansar Allah $1 billion for a ceasefire. But the Yemeni........

© Truthout