Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan invited Iran to join newly-established Mecca defense pact – report

Iran has reportedly been invited to join the newly established Mecca Agreement for Mutual Defense, a security alliance formed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan on August 7. According to Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Iranian parliament's Khaneh Mellat news agency, "Iran has received an invitation to join the Mecca Agreement, and the matter is under review." The agreement establishes a mutual defense principle, similar to NATO's Article 5, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. While Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated the agreement is not directed against Iran, an Iranian official claimed this development is "a victory for Iran, because it has been calling for this for a long time." The alliance, which could expand to include other countries like Egypt, has already begun developing diplomatic and military coordination mechanisms.