NEW YORK: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday welcomed the recently signed strategic defence agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, calling it a step toward building a broader regional security framework.
During his address at the United Nations General Assembly 80th Session in New York, President Pezeshkian described the Saudi Arabia and Pakistan defence pact as a step toward a comprehensive regional security framework.
“It is a step toward a comprehensive regional security framework involving Muslim countries of West Asia in political, security, and defence fields,” Pezeshkian said as quoted by the Iranian state news agency IRNA.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, on September 17, signed a landmark “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement”, pledging that any act of aggression against either country will be treated as an attack on both.
The pact, signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, aims to boost defence cooperation, strengthen joint deterrence, and deepen the historic partnership between the two nations.
At the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister Sharif paid a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression, the joint statement read.
“The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” according to the official statement.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in October 2024, signed 34 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements valued at $2.8 billion.
These agreements focused on enhancing private sector collaboration and expanding commercial partnerships between the two countries.
