Iran has reportedly been invited to join the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a security pact formed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, according to Al Mayadeen, which cited a senior Iranian official.

The report comes just weeks after the three countries signed the agreement in Mecca on August 7.

The pact stipulates that an armed attack on any one of its members would be regarded as an attack on all three, while also promoting military coordination, joint exercises and defence-industry cooperation.

According to the report, Tehran is considering the invitation.

The development would be significant given Iran’s historically tense relations with Saudi Arabia and the broader regional security dynamics.

However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry later denied that Tehran had received a formal invitation to join the pact.

Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said proposals had instead been made for talks with the three member states on broader regional security issues, and that those proposals were under consideration.

The founding members have said the agreement is defensive and not directed against any specific country.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also said the alliance could eventually expand to include other regional states.