Riyadh, October 26 (QNA) - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia underscored the criticality of reopening channels of negotiation to preclude a return to military escalation in the region, expressing hope that the parties to the crisis would engage constructively and pragmatically with the unwavering efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.

In a statement Monday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and representatives of the countries party to the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defense to Tehran, Iran, to meet with senior Iranian officials, comes as part of ongoing efforts by the agreement's parties to de-escalate the current crisis, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and bolster mediation efforts led by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The Kingdom expressed its aspiration for the parties to the crisis to engage positively and pragmatically with the outcomes of the visit and the steadfast mediation efforts of Qatar and Pakistan, which could ultimately help bring the crisis to a resolution through diplomacy, the statement said.

The statement stressed that the foremost priority is to reach an agreement that brings the crisis to a close and secures peace and stability in the region and beyond. It also reaffirmed the pivotal role of the agreement's parties in upholding regional security and stability and working in tandem with all nations to achieve lasting peace in the region and the world. (QNA)