MOSCOW, 7 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Iran could potentially join the Makkah Joint Defence Pact in the future, suggesting that the emerging security arrangement could expand beyond its founding members. 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 and described 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 request from Tehran to join the pact has been announced. The Makkah Joint Defence Pact was signed on August 7, 2026, by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, under which an armed attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all three. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has also stated that the pact allows additional countries to join, while clarifying that no final list of countries seeking formal membership has been announced so far. Lavrov’s remarks come as the three-member security arrangement considers the possibility of broadening its regional scope, with the potential inclusion of countries such as Iran, Egypt and Algeria likely to significantly expand its strategic and geographical reach. Any future membership, however, would depend on formal decisions by the existing members and interested states.