Iran Warns Saudi Arabia Over New Defense Pact With Turkey and Pakistan
A senior spokesman for Iran’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy has criticized Saudi Arabia’s newly announced joint defense agreement with Turkey and Pakistan, warning Riyadh that military agreements alone cannot guarantee long-term security.
In remarks reacting to the trilateral defense arrangement, the Iranian official said Saudi Arabia should not expect a security agreement signed on paper with Turkey and Pakistan to provide the level of security it has been seeking.
“Saudi Arabia should know that a written agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring security, just as years of one-sided support from the United States did not bring security.
The Iranian official argued that Riyadh’s reliance on external powers has failed to address the kingdom’s underlying security concerns, suggesting that Saudi Arabia should reconsider its broader regional policies rather than depending on foreign military guarantees.
“Correct your policies so that you no longer have to beg others for security.”
The comments come amid growing regional security cooperation, as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan move toward closer defense coordination. The emerging partnership could have significant implications for the strategic balance in the Middle East and South Asia, particularly as regional states seek greater military and security independence.
Tehran’s response also reflects Iran’s longstanding criticism of the presence and influence of the United States and other external powers in the Gulf. Iranian officials have repeatedly argued that regional security should be achieved through cooperation among neighboring countries rather than through alliances with outside powers.
The Iranian warning underscores the growing competition over the future security architecture of the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia strengthening its partnerships with major regional powers while Iran continues to advocate for a regional security framework based primarily on neighboring states.