Iran has criticized Saudi Arabia's defense alliance with Turkey and Pakistan — CNN

Iran has criticized the signing of a defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. The agreement provides for mutual defense among the three countries and marks an important step in strengthening their military cooperation. A high-ranking Iranian official stated that the new agreements cannot guarantee Saudi Arabia’s security. According to him, Riyadh will not receive reliable protection solely through a military agreement with other states.

This statement was made by Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy. “The Saudis must understand that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as decades of unilateral dependence on the Americans have not done so,” he said.

Rezaei also called on Saudi Arabia to change its foreign policy. In his view, the country should seek its own path to security rather than rely on the support of other states. “Change your policy so that you don’t have to beg others for security,” the Iranian lawmaker stated.

What Is Known About the New Defense Pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan previously agreed on mutual defense. The essence of such agreements is that an attack on one of the states can be considered a threat to all parties to the agreement. That is why the new pact is already being compared to NATO’s principle of collective defense. At the same time, this does not mean that the three countries have created an equivalent of the North Atlantic Alliance. It is a separate agreement between the states, intended to strengthen their military cooperation and mutual support.

For Saudi Arabia, the issue of security is particularly important due to the tense situation in the Middle East. The country is located in a region where relations between various states and armed groups have repeatedly escalated in recent years. Turkey and Pakistan, meanwhile, possess their own military capabilities and significant experience in cooperating with Saudi Arabia. This new framework could allow the three countries to coordinate their defense efforts more closely.

Why Iran Is Concerned

For Tehran, the strengthening of Saudi Arabia’s military ties with other regional powers is a significant signal. Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been rivals in the Middle East and have supported different sides in regional conflicts. At the same time, there have been attempts in recent years to improve relations between the countries. Therefore, the Iranian official’s reaction indicates that Tehran is closely monitoring Riyadh’s new military agreements.

Iran is paying particular attention to the participation of Turkey and Pakistan. Both countries have substantial armies and hold significant geopolitical importance. Their closer cooperation with Saudi Arabia could affect the balance of power in the region. Iran also points to Saudi Arabia’s longstanding ties with the United States. Rezaei cited Riyadh’s dependence on Washington as one of the reasons why current Saudi policy has allegedly failed to provide the country with an adequate level of security.

Thus, Tehran has effectively made it clear that it does not view the new defense pact as a factor that will radically change the situation in the Middle East. At the same time, the very emergence of such an alliance shows that countries in the region are trying to strengthen their own security ties amid instability and escalating international tensions. CNN reports on this.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz could be fully open to international shipping as early as August 4. After that, he said, Washington and Tehran will move on to a new phase of negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear program.

U.S. President Donald Trump also called on American oil companies to immediately lower gasoline prices for consumers. Separately, he criticized Chevron CEO Mike Wirth.