Iran Could Join Makkah Defence Pact, Khawaja Asif Says
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement could potentially be expanded to include additional Muslim countries, including Iran, but stressed that any new membership would require a joint decision by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Responding to a journalist’s question about whether Iran could become part of the agreement, Asif described Iran as an important regional country and emphasised that the defence arrangement was not designed against Tehran or any other state.
He said countries joining the framework would be expected to contribute towards regional peace and security.
The defence minister did not announce that Iran had been invited or had formally applied for membership. His comments instead confirmed that the existing agreement leaves open the possibility of expansion if its three current members reach a consensus.
Membership Requires Approval of All Three Countries
Asif said several Muslim countries had shown interest in joining the agreement.
However, he stressed that membership could not be decided unilaterally by Pakistan.
Any decision to admit another country would be taken through mutual consultation among the pact’s three existing participants — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by the three countries on August 7, 2026.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has officially described the agreement as “purely defensive in nature”, saying its purpose is to strengthen collective security and coordinate responses to threats facing member states.
The agreement formalised growing defence cooperation among Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara and established a framework for collective security.
Pakistan Says Pact Is Not Directed Against Iran
Asif’s comments are significant because of questions over how Iran views the emerging trilateral defence structure.
Pakistan has repeatedly sought to reassure Tehran that the agreement is not directed against it.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the agreement shortly after it was signed. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said Dar explained its main features and emphasised its objectives of strengthening strategic cooperation and promoting regional peace and security.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that position during his meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York this week, saying Iran had been taken into confidence regarding the agreement.
Separately, Asif said Friday that Iran had “no reservations” about the Makkah Joint Defence Pact, according to ARY News. That statement represents the defence minister’s account of Iran’s position.
Secretariat Expected to Become Active Soon
Asif also provided new details about implementation of the agreement.
He said a secretariat is expected to become operational in early October, while fully establishing the pact’s administrative and bureaucratic structure could take approximately two to four months.
The comments follow earlier indications from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that the agreement’s institutional structure, secretariat and joint military headquarters were moving towards implementation.
The agreement has gained greater attention following recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
Asif said last week that circumstances had reached a point where implementation of the pact could be required, reiterating that Pakistan would stand with Saudi Arabia if the security situation escalated.
Asif Welcomes US-Iran Contacts
The defence minister also commented on continuing contacts between the United States and Iran.
Asif said meetings between Washington and Tehran were a positive development because continued communication maintained the possibility of finding a solution.
US and Iranian negotiators in New York are currently exploring a phased formula aimed at ending the conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing Washington’s blockade measures, according to Reuters reporting.
Pakistan has been involved in diplomatic efforts between the two sides and continues to support a negotiated settlement.
The central development regarding the Makkah pact, however, remains limited: Iran has not joined the alliance. Asif has only confirmed that expansion is possible and that Iran is an important regional country whose potential membership, like that of any other state, would require the consent of all three current members.
