Summary Sergey Lavrov said the pact would not remain limited to Gulf countries and that other states could become part of the arrangement in the future
MOSCOW (Dunya News) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Iran could potentially join the Makkah Joint Defence Pact in the future, signalling that the emerging security arrangement may expand beyond its founding Gulf partners.
Lavrov said the pact would not remain limited to Gulf countries and that other states could become part of the arrangement in the future.
He specifically mentioned Egypt as a potential member, while describing any expression of interest from Algeria as a positive development.
The Russian foreign minister also said Iran could eventually become part of the Makkah defence alliance, although no formal Iranian request to join the pact has been announced.
The Makkah Joint Defence Pact was signed on August 7, 2026, by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
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Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all three.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has also said the pact allows for the inclusion of additional countries.
However, it has clarified that no final list of countries seeking formal membership has been announced so far.
Lavrov’s remarks come as the three-member security arrangement potentially looks to broaden its regional scope.
The possible inclusion of countries such as Iran, Egypt and Algeria could significantly expand the pact’s strategic and geographical reach, although any future membership would depend on formal decisions by the existing members and interested states.
