Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said regional countries had realised that security could not be obtained from what he called “false brokers”, in an apparent reference to the United States.
“Countries in the region cannot rely on the claim of security provided by the US as in the past,” Baqaei said during a weekly press conference.
His comments 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 all.
The agreement was signed at the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence on Friday, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The pact was signed against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which has drawn in other countries and disrupted shipping and energy routes across the region.
Baqaei said Tehran was not concerned that the agreement could be directed against Iran, pointing to Iran’s “deep religious, historical and civilisational ties” with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
“There is no reason to worry that this treaty will be against Iran,” he said.
Analysts have described the agreement as an effort to strengthen regional deterrence against Iran while reducing dependence on the United States as a security guarantor.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, however, has maintained that the agreement is aimed at strengthening collective security and promoting peace and stability in the region.
“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,” the Foreign Office said.
The agreement also provides for enhanced defence cooperation among the three countries.
Ishaq Dar discusses pact with regional counterparts
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held telephone conversations with foreign counterparts following the signing of the agreement.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar spoke with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who congratulated him on the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The two officials also discussed regional developments, including the situation in occupied East Jerusalem.
Dar also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The two discussed matters of mutual interest, multilateral cooperation and regional developments and stressed the importance of continued close coordination.
The Foreign Office said Dar also spoke with officials from Canada and Congo and briefed them on the contours of the newly signed defence agreement.
