- Iran considering invitation to join Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
- Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey signed pact, shared attack principle.
- Bangladesh also expressed interest in joining the defence arrangement.
- Iranian President Pezeshkian lauded national resistance against US pressure.
Iran has been invited to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey on August 7, as Tehran continues to face tensions with the United States.
Mehdi Rahimi, chief of Iran’s Parliament news agency, said Tehran had received the invitation and was considering the offer, according to a report by Al Mayadeen.
The invitation comes ahead of a planned visit to Tehran by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, adding significance to the proposed expansion of the defence arrangement.
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What Is The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the joint defence agreement on August 7. According to statements from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and the Saudi Press Agency cited by AFP, the pact states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all three.
The agreement comes as tensions in the region remain high. The United States has also been closely watching developments, with President Donald Trump welcoming the signing and describing it as a bold and historic step.
Trump said he was pleased that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan had finally signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. His comments came even as he has claimed US control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Bangladesh Also Signals Interest In Pact
Bangladesh has also appeared positive about joining the agreement. Humayun Kabir, the country’s newly appointed state minister for foreign affairs, has spoken about the possibility of Bangladesh becoming part of the arrangement.
According to PTI, Kabir also said Bangladesh would seek to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Pakistan through diplomatic engagement.
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Pezeshkian Praises Iran’s Response To US Pressure
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised the country’s people for standing firm in the face of the conflict and pressure from the US. He said there had been expectations that Iran could be turned into a situation similar to Venezuela, but the Iranian people had resisted the attack.
Pezeshkian made the remarks on Sunday while speaking at the start of Government Week. His speech was broadcast by Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.
The Iranian president said the US had attempted to turn Iran into another Venezuela. Instead, he said, Iran had emerged as a force that surprised the world through its resistance, solidarity and unity.
Pezeshkian also called for continued unity to confront what he described as a comprehensive economic war launched by Iran’s enemies. He said Iranians needed to stand together in the same way they had supported one another during the war involving the US and Israel.
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