Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan invited Iran to join newly-established Mecca defense pact - report

Iran has reportedly been invited to join the Mecca Agreement for Mutual Defense, a new security alliance established by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. The invitation was reportedly conveyed to Iran by a senior Iranian official, who stated that the matter is currently under review. The Mecca Agreement, signed on August 7, establishes a principle of mutual defense, with an attack on any one of the member countries considered an attack on all.

While Turkey's Foreign Minister compared the mechanism to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, he stressed that the agreement is not directed against Iran or any specific country. Iran has responded to the agreement with cautious approval, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stating that Tehran has no reason for concern and that the move reflects growing recognition among regional countries of the need for regional security mechanisms.

If Iran's membership is officially confirmed, it would significantly alter the character of the alliance, turning it into a broader regional framework.

Brief written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.