A Turkish diplomatic source said representatives from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates would attend.

The meeting comes amid limited signs of de-escalation nearly three weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has disrupted the region and affected global energy supplies. The conflict has heightened concerns over broader instability across the Middle East.

Hakan Fidan is expected to stress the need for a negotiated and peaceful resolution, warning that a prolonged conflict could inflict lasting damage on ties between regional countries, the Turkish source said. He is also expected to visit additional countries following the Riyadh talks.

Turkey, a member of the NATO and a neighbour of Iran, had sought to mediate between Tehran and United States before the war began. Ankara has since condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as violations of international law, while also criticising Iranian attacks on Gulf states as unacceptable.

The Riyadh meeting is expected to focus on coordinated diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict and mitigate its economic and security repercussions across the region.

The statement did not specify where the incident occurred or what operations the officers were involved in at the time. Officials also did not disclose their identities or whether other personnel were injured.The announcement comes as Kuwait and other Gulf states remain on heightened alert following a series of drone and missile launches from Iran after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic. Several countries in the region have reported intercepting aerial threats amid escalating security concerns.

The Kuwait Fire Force said only that the two officers were killed “while performing duties,” offering no further explanation. Authorities have not indicated whether the deaths were connected to fire response operations, civil defense activities, or emergency support related to the ongoing regional security situation.The fire service in Kuwait functions as the primary authority responsible for firefighting, rescue operations, and emergency response across the country.

Gulf countries, including Kuwait, have taken precautionary measures in response to the deteriorating security environment following the recent attacks on Iran. Governments across the region have stepped up air defense monitoring and emergency preparedness in case of spillover from the broader confrontation.While Kuwait has not publicly reported damage from incoming projectiles, officials have acknowledged the interception of drones and missiles launched from Iran in recent days.The deaths of the two officers were announced as authorities continued monitoring developments across the Gulf, where heightened tensions have prompted increased vigilance among civil defense and emergency services.

.The message was conveyed to Tehran ahead of remarks on Saturday by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who apologised to Gulf states for recent Iranian actions that have heightened regional tensions.Two days earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and outlined Riyadh’s position, according to the sources. Saudi Arabia said it favours a diplomatic settlement to Iran’s conflict with the United States but warned that further attacks on Saudi territory or energy facilities could compel the kingdom to respond.The sources said Prince Faisal stressed that Riyadh remained open to mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation and a negotiated resolution to the crisis. He also underlined that neither Saudi Arabia nor other Gulf states had allowed the United States to use their airspace or territory to conduct strikes on Iran.However, the minister cautioned that if Iranian strikes continued against Saudi territory or critical energy infrastructure, Riyadh could permit U.S. forces to use their bases for operations and would consider retaliatory measures.Saudi and Iranian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The warning comes amid heightened regional tensions following drone and missile strikes launched by Iran against several Gulf states over the past week.Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have all been targeted by attacks linked to Tehran, according to the sources. The strikes followed the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war that erupted after U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states that host U.S. military facilities, while Israel has also targeted Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group as part of the expanding conflict.

Despite the escalating violence, diplomatic channels between Riyadh and Tehran remain open. The sources said Saudi Arabia has maintained regular contact with Iranian officials through its ambassador since the U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran began on Feb. 28 following the collapse of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.Araqchi said in an interview on Saturday that he had remained in constant communication with Prince Faisal and other Saudi officials. He said Riyadh had assured Tehran it would not allow its territory, waters or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran.In his remarks, Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had approved a suspension of attacks on neighbouring countries unless those states were used as a launch point for strikes against Iran.The apology appeared aimed at easing tensions with Gulf governments concerned about the risk of the conflict spreading further across the region and threatening energy infrastructure and shipping routes.The exchanges highlight the delicate position faced by Gulf states seeking to avoid deeper involvement in the conflict while balancing security ties with Washington and growing regional instability.

Support for regional partnersItaly’s government said the planned assistance aims to strengthen defensive capabilities in affected areas and ensure the safety of Italian personnel stationed in the broader Middle East.Rome maintains military deployments and energy interests across the region, and officials said the measures were intended to reduce risks to Italian nationals and infrastructure linked to the country’s energy security.

Meloni said Italy would work with partners to reinforce defensive systems where necessary, describing the move as part of broader coordination with allies responding to the security situation.Focus on energy and securityItalian authorities said the decision reflects concerns about potential disruptions to energy supply routes and the safety of facilities connected to European energy markets.Officials noted that instability in the Gulf region could have implications for global energy flows, prompting governments to take precautionary steps to protect assets and personnel.

Opposition criticism at homeOpposition parties criticised Meloni for announcing the measures without first briefing parliament, saying the government should have sought legislative discussion before committing to security assistance abroad.Government officials said the decision was driven by urgency and the need to respond quickly to the evolving situation, while reaffirming that Italy remained committed to coordination with European and international partners.