Iran says Pakistan-Turkiye-Saudi deal shows 'change in perception' towards US

TEHRAN: Iran said on Monday that a defence pact signed last week between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan was "a sign of a change in the perception" of countries in the region towards the United States.

"The countries of the region have realised that security is not a commodity that can be bought from false brokers," said Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a weekly press conference, referring to the US, an ally of the three signatories to the pact.

"Countries in the region cannot rely on the claim of security provided by the US as in the past," he added.

The statement came days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against them all.

The agreement was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and the Turkish president on Friday.

The pact was signed against the backdrop of a five-month war between the US and Iran, which has drawn in surrounding nations and disrupted regional shipping routes.

Baqaei also said Iran was not concerned that the pact could be aimed at Tehran, highlighting "deep religious, historical and civilisational ties" with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.

There was "no reason to worry that this treaty will be against Iran", Baqaei said.

Analysts have said that the agreement seeks to deter an emboldened Iran and offset an unreliable United States.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said the agreement underscores the three countries' shared commitment to enhancing collective security and promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.

"The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” it added.

The agreement also provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three countries, read the statement.

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his counterparts of different countries on the recently signed tri-lateral agreement.

"Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke late last night with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah," the Foreign Office said on X.

It added that FM Jarrah felicitated DPM Dar on the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. "The two also exchanged views on the regional situation, including Occupied East Jerusalem."

The deputy prime minister also spoke with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan as they discussed issues of mutual interests, according to the FO.

"They discussed matters of mutual interest, including multilateral cooperation and regional developments, and underscored the importance of continued close coordination and cooperation, both bilaterally and at multilateral forums," the FO added.

The FO added that Dar also spoke with officials of Canada and Congo and shared with them the contours of the defence deal.