Iran Comments on Reports of Sending Pakistani Forces to Saudi Arabia Against the Houthis

- The Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed hope on Sunday that reports circulating about Pakistan sending troops to Saudi Arabia to participate in the war against the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen are not true, warning that any new intervention in developments related to Yemen would complicate the situation further. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baqaei, stated in a ministry statement on Sunday: "We have heard this rumor, and we hope it is not true and that it is just a rumor."

Baqaei added: "Because we, along with the countries in the region, know that any new intervention in developments related to Yemen complicates the situation." The Iranian official's remarks come at a time when speculation is increasing regarding the role Pakistan may play in supporting Saudi Arabia against the Houthi group, following Islamabad's announcement of its commitment to defend the kingdom under the Mecca Agreement for mutual defense signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan last August.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said days ago that his country would use "all available means" to defend Saudi Arabia, but he did not confirm whether Pakistani forces had already participated in airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Asif stated during a visit to Rome: "Pakistan's military capabilities will be available to Saudi Arabia under the new mutual defense treaty with Saudi Arabia and Turkey."

On October 2, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said at a press conference held in Islamabad that senior ministers and government officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan would hold a meeting in Riyadh next week, as part of the Mecca Agreement for mutual defense among the three countries. Ishaq Dar added that the foreign and defense ministers and military leaders from the three countries would meet next week "to review the latest developments and the ground reality, especially concerning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," emphasizing: "We are committed to defending Saudi Arabia."

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement similar to NATO, stating that any attack targeting any of them "is considered an attack on all of them." This agreement comes at a time when Riyadh faces threats on multiple fronts, including threats from the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen, while recent strikes carried out by the group against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting the capital Riyadh, have put the strategic agreement at risk.