Iran talks: Why US allies are racing to Tehran

Saudi Arabia sent its defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, to Tehran on Monday for direct talks with Iran's top security official, Mohsin Razaee, and other leaders. The prince, a younger son of the king, was accompanied by the kingdom's military and intelligence chiefs. The visit marks the first time Saudi Arabia has entered direct diplomatic talks with Iran. It reflects a wider push by the United States' Muslim-majority Middle Eastern allies, who have accelerated contacts with Tehran over a new regional security framework. These countries fear further blowback from the Iran war, and they are moving quickly to open channels before the situation escalates.