Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus says the Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye agreement could eventually include Iran and other Muslim countries.
WEB DESK: The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could eventually develop into a broader security pact involving other Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said on Friday.
Kurtulmus said the agreement was not directed against any particular country and was intended to strengthen the security of its participating states.
His remarks came as the three existing members continue work on implementing the defence agreement, which was signed in Makkah on August 7.
Kurtulmus says pact could include Iran
Speaking about the agreement, Kurtulmus said it could become a wider pact “for the Muslim world” and potentially include Iran.
The Turkish parliament speaker stressed that Ankara does not view the Makkah agreement as an arrangement directed against Tehran.
“We never see Makkah Agreement as pact against Iran,” Kurtulmus said, according to Reuters.
The comments describe a possible future expansion, rather than a decision to admit Iran into the agreement. No announcement has been made that Iran has joined the pact.
Agreement currently covers three countries
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7, 2026.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against one of the three member states is to be treated as an attack against all three.
The countries have since begun establishing the institutional mechanisms needed to implement the agreement.
An inaugural meeting of officials from the three countries was held in Istanbul on August 31. Pakistan was selected to head the agreement’s secretariat in Riyadh, while retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood was appointed its first secretary general on September 23.
Pact not aimed at a specific country
Kurtulmus said the agreement was intended to ensure the security of participating countries rather than target a particular state.
His comments come amid heightened regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Iran.
Earlier this month, Iran’s Foreign Ministry also said Tehran was not concerned that the agreement was specifically directed against Iran and stressed its relations with the countries involved.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately said on Friday that the Makkah defence pact was not aimed at Iran or Israel, while outlining Ankara’s broader approach to regional security and diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia faces attacks from Yemen
The discussion over the pact’s future comes as Saudi Arabia faces attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have recently been discussing the implementation of the agreement amid the attacks.
On Friday, the three countries were also preparing for an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to discuss possible support for Saudi Arabia under the agreement. The specific form of any support had not been publicly detailed.
The developments have increased attention on how the newly established defence framework could operate during regional crises.
Ratification still pending in Turkiye
Kurtulmus said the Makkah agreement had not yet been submitted to the Turkish parliament for ratification.
According to Reuters, he expected the agreement to be presented to lawmakers after parliament returns from its recess in October.
This means the pact is still going through domestic approval and institutional processes in at least some of the member states.
