Iran Hard-Liner Questions Pakistan’s Mediation Role After New Saudi-Türkiye Defense Pact
Hossein Shariatmadari, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader and editor-in-chief of the hard-line Kayhan newspaper, has questioned Pakistan’s ability to continue mediating between Tehran and Washington following Islamabad’s participation in a new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Shariatmadari argued that Pakistan had compromised its neutrality by joining the “Mecca Joint Defense Pact,” signed Friday by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan in Mecca. According to the supplied report, the agreement stipulates that an attack against one signatory would be considered an attack against all three.
The Kayhan editor criticized Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that Islamabad’s participation in the new security arrangement ultimately serves the interests of Washington and Israel.
On that basis, Shariatmadari said Pakistan should reconsider its role as an intermediary between Iran and the United States. His remarks, however, represent his own political position and were not presented as an official statement by the Iranian government. They also do not establish that Pakistan has formally ended its mediation efforts.
The criticism comes as regional security relationships are undergoing significant changes amid tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Pakistan’s participation in the pact is particularly significant for Tehran because Islamabad has previously sought to maintain diplomatic channels between Iran and Washington. Shariatmadari’s comments suggest that hard-line elements in Iran increasingly view Pakistan’s expanding security relationships as incompatible with a neutral mediating role.
He also criticized Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia over their response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, arguing that their positions had not amounted to meaningful opposition to Israel.
Separately, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said Saturday that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would depend on the United States accepting conditions set by Iran.
