Iran says it has no reason to be concerned about the new security pact between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, saying the agreement should not be seen as a move against Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated this on Monday while reacting to the defence agreement signed by the three countries in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on August 7.
The pact brings together the three countries in a security arrangement under which an armed attack against any of them would be regarded as an attack against all three.
Speaking in Dubai, Baghaei said the agreement reflected a growing move by countries in the region to rely more on their own capabilities for security rather than depend on outside powers.
He said Iran would not be worried about the pact if it was based on the realities of the region and aimed at addressing security concerns.
“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,” he said.
Baghaei, however, referred to Israel as the “Zionist enemy” and its allies as threats to regional stability.
The agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Turkey has said the pact is not directed at Iran or any other country, but is intended as a broader commitment to the security of the three allies.
The agreement comes at a time of heightened regional tensions following the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, as well as attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have also been on opposing sides of several regional disputes, although the two countries restored diplomatic ties in 2023 after years of hostility.
