Iranian official has warned Saudi Arabia that relying heavily on the United States and foreign military partnerships will not necessarily provide lasting security, as a new regional defence arrangement involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan reshapes the strategic landscape of the Middle East.
The warning comes after Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. The agreement commits the three countries to collective defence, with an armed attack against one member to be treated as an attack against all. The pact was signed amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over the continuing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Iran has viewed the development with concern, particularly as Saudi Arabia strengthens its security relationships while the region remains deeply divided over the role of outside powers.
The Iranian criticism reflects Tehran's long-standing opposition to a strong American military presence in the Gulf. Iranian officials have repeatedly argued that regional countries should resolve their security problems through dialogue and cooperation rather than depending on major powers outside the region.
For Riyadh, however, the new defence arrangement represents an effort to strengthen deterrence at a time when the security environment has become increasingly unpredictable. Saudi Arabia brings substantial financial resources and military spending to the partnership, while Türkiye contributes significant defence-industrial capabilities and military experience. Pakistan, meanwhile, has longstanding military ties with Saudi Arabia and is a nuclear-armed state.
The agreement does not mean Saudi Arabia has abandoned its longstanding relationship with Washington. The kingdom continues to maintain extensive military, economic and diplomatic ties with the United States. Analysts say the latest regional arrangements are better understood as part of a broader effort by Middle Eastern powers to diversify their security relationships rather than rely exclusively on a single external partner.
That distinction is important because the headline criticism about a “US alliance” can be misleading: the new pact itself is between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, not between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Iran's objection is instead directed at what it sees as continued dependence by Gulf states on Washington and other external security partners.
The agreement also comes at a particularly sensitive moment. The wider conflict has disrupted energy supplies and commercial shipping, while tensions surrounding the strategically important Strait of Hormuz have raised international concerns about the global economy. Reuters reported that diplomatic efforts were also underway to address the disruption and seek greater stability around the waterway.
For Saudi Arabia, the immediate priority is protecting its territory, infrastructure and economic interests from further regional instability. For Iran, the growing network of defence partnerships around its borders could be interpreted as an emerging strategic challenge.
Whether the new pact reduces the risk of conflict or contributes to further military competition remains uncertain. Much will depend on how the three signatories interpret their mutual-defence commitments during a future crisis and whether diplomatic channels with Iran remain open.
The latest development therefore represents more than another military agreement. It is part of a broader transformation in Middle Eastern security, as regional powers increasingly seek greater control over their own defence while balancing relationships with Washington, Tehran and other major international actors.