'A paper tiger': Iran sees Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan defense pact as a major win, expert tells 'Post'

Tehran perceives the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement as a significant victory following its aerial assaults on Gulf nations, according to experts interviewed by The Jerusalem Post. Emirati researcher Huda Albadi described the pact as ineffective but noted it reflected a troubling regional mentality, casting Israel as the destabilizing force rather than Iran.

Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi announced plans for Iran to import electricity from Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, despite the latter's lack of action against aggressors against its territory. Albadi argued the pact was viewed as a Muslim alliance against Israel, noting Turkey's desire to emulate the powerful Ottoman Empire and Pakistan's desire for a united military front against Israel.

Despite Sunni-majority countries' shared identity, the pact carries a notably Islamic and religious identity, despite being in 2026. The agreement may reduce U.S. influence in the region, as Saudi Arabia's normalization with Israel was partly driven by potential U.S. security commitments.