Iran has reportedly been invited to join a regional defence pact formed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, in a potentially significant development
given Tehran's longstanding rivalry with Riyadh. The claim was reported by Al Mayadeen on Saturday, citing Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Iranian parliament's Khaneh Mellat news agency. However, there has been no official confirmation from Iran's Foreign Ministry or from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or Turkey. Rahimi told Al Mayadeen: "Iran has received an invitation to join the Mecca Agreement, and the matter is under review." He said countries in the region "are moving toward seeking a regional security umbrella", describing the development as "a victory for Iran, because it has been calling for this for a long time". Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on 7 August. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be regarded as an attack against all three. The agreement also calls for closer defence cooperation and stronger collective deterrence. The three countries have said the arrangement is intended to strengthen regional security and is not directed against any particular country. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has compared the mutual-defence principle with Nato's Article 5, while stressing that the agreement is not aimed at another state. The pact is expected to include coordination between military and political leadership, cooperation in defence industries and joint military exercises. Pakistan has described the agreement as a defensive initiative and said it remains open to other countries joining the framework. Egypt has emerged as one possible addition, while Bangladesh has also indicated it is open to participating in an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, depending on its strategic and economic interests. What Has Iran said? Tehran has not opposed the creation of the Makkah framework. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on 10 August that Tehran had "no reason for concern" over the agreement. He said the development reflected a growing understanding among regional countries of the need to establish their own security arrangements. That response could make a reported invitation to Iran less unexpected. But Iranian membership would represent a significant development because of Tehran's complicated relationship with Saudi Arabia. The two countries have been regional rivals for decades, with their competition playing out in conflicts including Yemen and across the wider Gulf. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia has backed the internationally recognised government against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has recently stepped up attacks on Saudi targets. Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations in 2023 after years of hostility, in a rapprochement brokered with China's help. Relations have since deteriorated following Iranian missile and drone attacks on Riyadh and other Gulf states in response to US-Israeli attacks.
