Iran Invited To Join Saudi-Led ‘Mecca Agreement’ Mutual Defense Pact, Tehran Says
*Iran has received an invitation* to join the *Mecca Agreement for Mutual Defense*, the new security alliance formed by *Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan*, _Al Mayadeen_ reported on Saturday, citing a senior Iranian official.
The report has not been officially confirmed by *Iran’s Foreign Ministry* or by any of the three signatory countries.
*Mehdi Rahimi*, head of the Iranian parliament’s _Khaneh Mellat_ news agency, told the channel: _“Iran has received an invitation to join the Mecca Agreement, and the matter is under review.”_
Rahimi said countries in the region “are moving toward seeking a regional security umbrella,” adding that it represented _“a victory for Iran, because it has been calling for this for a long time.”_
The pact was *signed on August 7* by *Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman*, *Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan* and *Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif*.
Under the agreement, an attack on any of the three countries would be considered an attack on all.
*Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan* compared the mechanism to *Article 5 of NATO*, but stressed that the agreement was not directed against Iran or any specific country.