Mohsen Rezaei: Saudi Fears Israel Will Target Türkiye

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei said on Saturday that Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman warned at Monday’s quadrilateral meeting in Tehran that Israel will go after Türkiye once it is done with Iran, and then Saudi Arabia. Rezaei made the claim in an interview with Iranian state television. No public confirmation or denial from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye or Pakistan appeared at the time of writing.

“Prince Khalid said that after you, Israel will go after Turkey, and then it will come after us, Saudi Arabia,” Rezaei said. He said the three countries had themselves requested the visit and that their delegates spoke strongly against Israel. “I thought they have become more Hezbollahi than many of our friends,” he said, using an Iranian idiom for ardent commitment. “They spoke so firmly against Israel.”

Rezaei said Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also voiced concern about the Israeli threat. He said Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke about the Israeli threat and about what Rezaei described as “the ties being formed between Hindus and Jews against Muslims and against Pakistan.” The characterization is Rezaei’s own account of the Pakistani remarks. Rezaei said all four sides agreed to continue the meetings, and that the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan could also visit Iran for further talks. He portrayed the meeting as part of an effort to build a regional security framework led by countries of the region rather than outside powers.

The meeting took place on Monday at the Saadabad complex in Tehran and was hosted by Rezaei, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also taking part, according to CNN and Iranian media. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Pakistan proposed the gathering during Munir’s visit to Tehran the week before and that Iran welcomed it. Afterward the four sides issued a joint statement agreeing to continue dialogue to strengthen cooperation among the four countries, including on regional peace and security, according to IRNA and Anadolu.

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan are parties to the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7, under which an attack on one is treated as an attack on all. Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have said the pact is defensive and not aimed at any state. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry described Prince Khalid’s visit on Monday as part of efforts to reduce tensions, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and support the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan. It said nothing about Israel.

The remarks come as Iran works to present the visit as a sign of regional alignment while the US prepares for possible new strikes after the November 3 midterms. In the same interview, Rezaei said Iran has read a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, has not yet replied, and has not decided to change its nuclear doctrine.