India, Aug. 18 -- The Makkah Agreement is best understood as an ambitious strategic triangle with enormous potential but incomplete strategic convergence. And Iran sits precisely where those interests collide

The temptation to describe the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as an "Islamic NATO" is understandable. Signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan on August 7, 2026, the agreement declares that an armed attack against one member will be regarded as an attack against all. It brings together Saudi Arabia's financial and energy power, Turkiye's formidable conventional military and defence-industrial capabilities, and Pakistan's nuclear deterrent.

Yet the NATO analogy is premature. The greatest reason is Iran.

Iran represents the ulti...