Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for the strengthening of regional unity and solidarity. He made this appeal during a meeting in Tehran on Monday (October 26) with representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey—nations that recently signed the Makkah Defense Pact.
In a statement released on the Iranian President’s official website, Pezeshkian expressed his hope that the presence of representatives from these significant and influential Islamic nations would help further solidify regional unity and solidarity.
He emphasized that Islamic nations should stand together and adopt a coordinated stance.
Earlier, Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, reported that Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey had convened to discuss regional cooperation, as well as the implications of potential attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. They were joined by Iranian President Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and security official Mohsen Rezaei. Also present were Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, and the head of Turkey’s intelligence agency, Ibrahim Kalin.
Following the meeting, Iranian state television reported that the four nations agreed to continue discussions to further strengthen their cooperation, with a focus on maintaining regional peace and security.
Regional Security Must Be Ensured by the Nations Themselves
Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that this meeting is part of an effort to implement the concept of ensuring security in West Asia through the region’s own initiatives.
In recent weeks, attacks by the pro-Iranian Houthi rebel group from Yemen against Saudi Arabia have intensified. Simultaneously, tensions between Washington and Tehran have also escalated. Given that Saudi Arabia has become increasingly entangled in the ongoing conflict, this meeting between Iran and the members of the Makkah Defense Pact is being viewed as highly significant. According to the Makkah Defense Pact signed last August, an armed attack on any member of the alliance is to be considered an attack on all members. Against this backdrop, this meeting was held in Tehran to explore ways to ensure regional security, de-escalate tensions, and seek diplomatic solutions.
