Iran may join Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defence alliance as reported invitation remains unconfirmed

Iran has been invited to join the Mecca Agreement for Mutual Defense, a new security alliance formed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, Al Mayadeen reported, citing a senior Iranian official.The reported invitation has not been officially confirmed by Iran’s foreign ministry or by Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Pakistan.Mehdi Rahimi, head of Iran’s parliament’s Khaneh Mellat news agency, told Al Mayadeen that Iran had received an invitation and that the proposal was under review.Rahimi said regional countries were moving towards establishing a “regional security umbrella”, adding that such a development would be favourable to Iran as Tehran had long advocated regional security mechanisms.The Mecca Agreement was signed on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack against all three. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has compared the arrangement with Nato’s Article 5, while stressing that the alliance was not directed against Iran or any other specific country.The three members are also working on mechanisms for diplomatic and military coordination, including meetings between foreign and defence ministers, military commanders, joint exercises and cooperation in defence industries.Turkey has indicated that the alliance could eventually expand to include other countries, with Egypt publicly mentioned as a possible candidate.