Mecca Joint Defense Agreement

Saudis ask Trump to 'give diplomacy a chance' on Iran prior to military option, sources tell 'Post'

According to one regional source who spoke with the Post, during the meetings, the Saudis conveyed a request to Iran that Tehran refrain from targeting key Saudi oil and gas facilities.

|ByAMICHAI STEIN, REUTERS
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speak as they arrive during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Leaders’ Summit at The Ritz-Carlton on May 14, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the AK Party headquarters, Ankara, Turkey, October 7, 2026; illustrative.

Erdogan tells Trump Turkey making diplomatic efforts on Strait of Hormuz, Yemen

Erdogan told Trump that Turkey is working to resolve the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen crises through diplomacy, as Iran considers a new Qatar-mediated ceasefire proposal.

|ByREUTERS
A woman walks next to a banner with a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, earlier this month.

Iran security chief meets Supreme Leader Khamenei after talks with Mecca pact countries

State media said Khamenei had stressed the importance of pursuing Iran's interests and maintaining its conditions for ending the war.

|ByREUTERS
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks during a joint-press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (not pictured) following their meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 11, 2026

Egypt approves military support for Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks escalate

Egypt has frequently condemned Iranian and Iranian-backed attacks on Gulf countries but has not publicly engaged in direct combat or joined the Mecca mutual defense pact.

|ByREUTERS

Turkey, Saudi, Pakistan defense pact complicates Israel normalization hopes, expert tells 'Post'

Saudi Arabia, the hardest-hit of all three countries, likely joined the pact so it would have more leverage and options as trust in Washington is waning in the region, Guzansky said.

AUGUST 9, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 7, 2026.