Iran says it sees no reason to fear that the new security pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is directed against Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei made the statement on August 10, offering Iran's clearest official response to the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement signed three days earlier.

Baghaei said the pact reflects a shift by regional states toward relying more heavily on their own capabilities instead of external powers. He suggested such cooperation could be positive if it remains inclusive, recognizes the region's geopolitical and historical realities and addresses what Tehran considers the actual sources of insecurity. He also referred to Israel and its allies while describing those threats.

The agreement links three major Muslim-majority states and includes a collective-defence commitment under which an armed attack on one would be treated as an attack on all. Saudi Arabia contributes economic and regional influence, Türkiye brings a large NATO military and defence industry, and Pakistan adds extensive military experience and nuclear capability. The signatories have repeatedly described the arrangement as defensive and not targeted at any country.

Iran's measured public reaction is significant because the pact emerged during a period of direct conflict, disrupted Gulf shipping and renewed attacks by Iran-aligned groups. Earlier Iranian criticism had raised questions about whether Tehran would regard the agreement as containment. Baghaei's language instead leaves room for coexistence and even qualified support for greater regional self-reliance.

That does not remove strategic uncertainty. The agreement's operational rules, command mechanisms and thresholds for assistance have not been fully tested. Iran will judge it by military deployments, intelligence cooperation, defence-industrial projects and whether new states join. The members will likewise watch Iran's relationships with armed groups in Yemen and Iraq and its policy toward Gulf infrastructure and shipping.

Reuters reported Baghaei's remarks, while Iranian and regional coverage independently carried the same core statement. The response should not be read as Iranian endorsement of every clause. It is a diplomatic signal that Tehran does not presently intend to portray the pact as an automatic hostile alliance.

The practical test will come during the next regional crisis. Transparent exercises, clear defensive limits and direct communication with neighbouring states could reduce miscalculation. Ambiguous deployments or rhetoric could have the opposite effect. For now, Iran's official message is cautious: it will not publicly fear the pact, but it expects any regional security system to identify threats in a way consistent with Tehran's own political view.