Speaking at a press briefing, Dar said Iran had distanced itself from the Houthis in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq, saying it had no connection with them. He said Iran had also suggested that the Houthis should be engaged politically rather than through military action.
Dar said the Makkah Defence Agreement is defensive in nature and does not have any offensive purpose. The agreement also allows other countries to join if they accept its principles. However, he said new members could only be considered once the agreement becomes fully operational, a process that could take at least a year.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August. Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three countries is to be considered an attack on all three.
Dar also said a meeting of the Strategic Political Defence Committee under the agreement will be held in Riyadh next week to discuss the regional situation, particularly the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The announcement comes amid continuing tensions across the Middle East, including the situation in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon, as well as fighting involving the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
The regional tensions remain linked to wider disputes involving Iran, Israel, Hezbollah and the Houthis, raising concerns over further escalation in the region.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has also affected the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key oil shipping routes. Disruptions to maritime traffic through the strait have put pressure on oil supplies and global energy markets.
