The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia gathered in Antalya, Turkey on Friday to coordinate efforts aimed at ending the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, according to reporting by Axios.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and marked the third convening of the so-called diplomatic "quad" since the conflict began. The group has emerged as a central diplomatic channel in international efforts to broker a ceasefire and negotiated settlement.
Who is driving the mediation
Pakistan has taken the lead role in the mediation effort, most recently hosting peace talks between the two sides last weekend. Turkey and Egypt have played supporting roles, working behind the scenes to keep negotiations moving forward, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions cited by Axios.
Saudi Arabia's participation in the quad reflects the kingdom's significant stake in regional stability, given that an ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran carries direct consequences for the Gulf region.
Broader diplomatic context
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum provided a convenient backdrop for the gathering, bringing together senior officials from across the world and offering a discreet setting for sensitive consultations.
The repeated convening of the four-nation group signals a sustained and organized diplomatic effort, rather than ad hoc outreach. The involvement of countries spanning South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa reflects the broad international concern over the conflict's potential to destabilize multiple regions simultaneously.
Details of what was discussed at Friday's meeting, or whether any concrete progress was made, were not disclosed in the available source material. The status of ongoing peace talks between the U.S. and Iran also remains unclear based on current reporting.
Axios first reported on the meeting, citing a source with knowledge of the quad's activities.
