World

A last-ditch attempt to bring Tehran closer to Makkah

The surprise visit by the Makkah Pact foreign ministers — Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye — to Tehran left many wondering: What can three capitals with different equities but a shared concern actually achieve in Tehran, and at this late hour? The answer is both modest and crucial. The visit represents an opportunity to apprise Iran of the facts and risks, and the need to act wisely and realistically, and to spare its people and the region the consequences of escalation. This is particularly t