Iran has reportedly been invited to join the Mecca Agreement for Mutual Defence, a new regional security alliance formed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
The reported invitation was disclosed by Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Iranian parliament’s Khaneh Mellat news agency, in an interview with Al Mayadeen. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the three founding countries have not officially confirmed the invitation.
Iran Reviewing Reported Invitation
Rahimi said Iran had received an invitation to join the alliance and that Tehran was currently considering the proposal.
“Iran has received an invitation to join the Mecca Agreement, and the matter is under review,” he said.
He added that regional countries were moving towards creating a “regional security umbrella”, describing the development as favourable for Iran because Tehran had long supported regional security arrangements.
The reported invitation comes amid continuing efforts by countries in West Asia to strengthen regional defence and security cooperation.
What Is the Mecca Defence Agreement?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack against all three.
The pact also envisages greater military and diplomatic coordination, including meetings between foreign and defence ministers, military commanders, joint exercises and cooperation in defence industries.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has compared the mutual-defence provision with NATO’s Article 5. However, he stressed that the agreement was not directed against Iran or any other specific country.
The alliance could also expand in the future. Egypt has been publicly mentioned as a possible addition, while other regional countries have also shown interest in closer cooperation.
Iran’s Earlier Response
Iran has so far responded cautiously to the creation of the alliance.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on August 10 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 mechanisms.
Iranian membership would nevertheless mark a significant development given its long-standing rivalry with Saudi Arabia.
The two countries restored diplomatic relations in 2023 following years of tensions, with China helping broker the rapprochement. Their relationship has since improved in some areas, although disagreements over regional conflicts and security issues remain.
The reported invitation also comes as Pakistan seeks a greater role in efforts to reduce tensions in West Asia. Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir is scheduled to visit Tehran, with Islamabad also involved in diplomatic efforts related to the Iran-US conflict.
