An Iranian senior official told the Jerusalem Post and Al Mayadeen that Tehran
has been invited to join the Mecca collective defence pact set up earlier this
month by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. The invitation has not been
confirmed by Iran’s foreign ministry or by any of the three pact members. Mehdi
Rahimi, head of the Islamic Consultative Assembly news agency, said Iran has
received the invitation and is reviewing it, adding regional states are moving
toward a regional security umbrella and describing the development as a
diplomatic win for Iran.
