This week, Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, stated that Pakistan had warned Iran against launching strikes on Saudi territory amid their war with US and Israel.
The agreement suggests that an assault on either nation is regarded as an assault on both.
This warning followed the incident where Iranian drones targeted the US embassy compound in Riyadh, along with attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including the Ras Tanura oil complex.
The minister mentioned that this message was directly communicated from Pakistan to Iran’s foreign minister during a phone call over the weekend amid US Iran war.
However, now Pakistan may experience a challenge to its allegiance to its oil-rich ally, Saudi Arabia, occurring only months after solidifying its defense partnership.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign a Defense pact
In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia formalised their security cooperation by signing the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), a significant pact that establishes a formal alliance.
This agreement asserts that an attack on one country is deemed an attack on both, which could extend Pakistan’s nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia and enhance joint military operations.
The pact modifies the regional security landscape, particularly impacting Iran, India, and Israel, while potentially indicating a shift in Saudi Arabia’s reliance from the US towards a Pakistan-China-Saudi coalition.
Tehran has launched hundreds of Shahed drones and high-speed ballistic missiles aimed at Israel and several US-aligned Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.
Iran announces closure of Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and issued warnings regarding attacks on vessels, which has led to a suspension of significant oil and gas shipments and compelled global shipping to explore alternative routes.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Iranian assaults targeted both the capital and the eastern region of the kingdom.
Numerous Iranian drones hit the US Embassy in Riyadh, resulting in material damage, while the Ras Tanura oil refinery and other Aramco facilities were attacked by drones and projectiles.
Saudi forces successfully intercepted and destroyed the majority of the missiles.
Read more: Rising Middle East tension risk spreading to other countries: Zardari
