Iran takes partial credit for expansion of defense pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan

Iran said Monday the recently announced defense pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan reflects a changing security outlook as regional countries seek to rely less on U.S. military power after the war.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told a press conference that Iran’s war with the U.S. and Israel showed decisively that regional powers cannot depend on Washington for protection.

“Countries in the region have realized that the greatest threat to the region and the world is Israel and that they cannot rely on U.S. assertions that it will provide security,” Mr. Baghaei said. “Security is not a commodity that can be bought from security brokers.”

The U.S.-Iran war, which began in late February, has engulfed nearly the entire region as Tehran and its proxy groups attack not only American military bases but essential infrastructure in Gulf states.

Iranian officials have repeatedly demanded that the U.S. should abandon its bases in the Middle East and have argued that Washington does not have the capacity to protect nations such as Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia announced last week that it had signed a comprehensive defense pact, known as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, with Pakistan and Turkey. The agreement includes greater cooperation on regional security and a mutual defense clause, meaning an attack on one would be the same as an attack on all.

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The pact is effectively an expansion of a previous agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan late last year.

Iranian officials have been relatively mute on the deal after its announcement last week. But in the aftermath of the deal’s announcement, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on all Muslim-majority nations to rely on themselves for self-defense, without specifically referencing the deal.

Mr. Baghaei on Monday added that Iran is not afraid of a new power center growing out of the pact and said the agreement would provide an important bulwark against Israel.

“Any plan that is based on ‌the ⁠geopolitical and historical realities of the region, is comprehensive and inclusive, and correctly identifies the enemy ⁠and the threat, has a chance of helping to strengthen security ⁠and prevent instability and abuses by the Zionist enemy ⁠and its allies,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Still, it remains to be seen if the agreement will translate into significant collective action, as all three nations consider the massive implications of charging into war.

The Saudi-Pakistan agreement signed last year did not prevent Iran or its proxies from launching attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, and Pakistan has acted as a key mediator in the U.S.-Iran war.

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