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Trump says US 'low-keying it' with Iran - The Korea Times
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump signaled Sunday he is prepared to let economic pressure mount against Iran, apparently backing away from ordering more military strikes even as Tehran issues tough demands. "We are low-keying it," Trump said, according to the news outlet Axios, which said it spoke to him in a brief phone call. Only a week ago Trump made the latest of his series of threats to hit Iran hard, only to back off, as he presses for a deal to end the war he started along with Israel on February 28. Axios said Trump did not express any frustration Sunday with Iran's delaying an agreement to open up the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has demanded that the U.S. first end its blockade of Iranian ports and lift oil sanctions, as per the memorandum of understanding the two countries signed in June. The strait's blockage by Iran since the war started has sent fuel prices soaring and rattled the world economy, putting pressure on the Trump administration as midterm elections in November grow nearer. "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money," Trump was quoted as saying. Trump also said oil prices are falling so American consumers are feeling less pain from the war. "It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game," Trump said of U.S. dealings with Iran.
'Gaza plan rejected by Netanyahu only way forward'
'Gaza plan rejected by Netanyahu only way forward'
'Gaza plan rejected by Netanyahu only way forward'
The US-backed plan for Gaza rejected on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains the "only way forward" to prevent a repeat of Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, the head of US President Donald Trump's implementation board said. "The option we are offering today is the only way forward that ensures this tragedy does not happen again," Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 television. He said that further talks were underway and, "I hope these discussions will lead to a positive outcome for everyone." Netanyahu earlier told his cabinet that he rejected the plan, under which Hamas would hand over weapons to a nascent Palestinian governing body and Israel would start a withdrawal from the war-ravaged territory. Mladenov described the current stage of the agreement as a commitment involving the United States, Hamas and the Board of Peace – notably leaving out Israel. He also reiterated an assurance he made to Netanyahu last week that Israel would pull out only after a complete Hamas disarmament, walking back earlier language that spoke of Israel starting a phased withdrawal. But Mladenov maintained that Israel would eventually pull out if there were verified disarmament. "If there is genuine demilitarisation, Israel will withdraw from the Strip," he said. He said the disarmament would involve all Hamas weapons, down to Kalashnikov rifles. Israel has demanded the destruction of all weapons, not just handing them over. (AFP) Edited by Cecil Wong
Trump says US is ‘only semi-negotiating’ as Iran talks stall
Trump says US is ‘only semi-negotiating’ as Iran talks stall - President Donald Trump is taking a wait-and-see approach to Iran, believing the country’s economic challenges will force a resolution, and has reportedly considered declaring victory if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, even without a nuclear agreement. - “We are low keying it,” Trump told Axios on Sunday, claiming the U.S. strategy will eventually “work out.” - Iran's Foreign Minister confirmed indirect talks via intermediaries, while Vice President JD Vance described the situation as "in the middle of the game," involving diplomatic, economic and military tools. - Iran has presented new conditions for a deal, including ending the war, lifting the U.S. blockade, paying war damages and unfreezing assets, while U.S. officials insist Iran must first restore commercial shipping. - The president faces increasing pressure to end the nearly six-month conflict due to upcoming midterm elections, elevated gas prices and depleted U.S. weapon stockpiles.
Trump says US is ‘only semi-negotiating’ as Iran talks stall
Trump says US is ‘only semi-negotiating’ as Iran talks stall
Only ‘About 15 Percent’ Of Orthodox Priests In Russia Support Putin’s War – OpEd
Only ‘About 15 Percent’ Of Orthodox Priests In Russia Support Putin’s War – OpEd
Only ‘About 15 Percent’ Of Orthodox Priests In Russia Support Putin’s War – OpEd
Only ‘About 15 Percent’ Of Orthodox Priests In Russia Support Putin’s War – OpEd Many assume that Moscow Patriarch Kirill’s regular statements of support for Putin’s war in Ukraine set the weather for Orthodox priests and laiety in the Russain Federation, Nikolay Mitrokhin says; but that is not the case: Indeed, “only about 15 percent” of Orthodox priests there actively support the expanded Russian invasion. Kirill’s delarations, the scholar at the University of Bremen says, are not so much directed at the priests and believers to get them to accept his position – in Orthodoxy, even a patriarch doesn’t have that right – as a sign to the Kremlin that the Patriarchate as such is loyal to Putin (vot-tak.tv/94741767/rpc-voyna). Mitrokhin notes that “Patriarch Kirill is often perceived by analogy with the Pope or Ayatollah Khomeini – as a figure whose words automatically encourage believers to act. However, in Orthodoxy in general and in the ROC in particular, there is no direct connection between the rhetoric of the top leadership and the behavior of ordinary laity.” Kirill’s words, he points out, “are addressed primarily to the state power, as a demonstration of loyalty. Their practice influence ends at the church pulpit where the speech was made and the real administrative powers of the patriarch are limited to the boundaries of the Moscow diocese alone,” where Kirill is bishop. Most priests avoid talking about the war to avoid sparking conflicts within their parishes, and the Patriarchate does not encourage them to travel to Ukraine or to serve in the ranks of the Russian army. It decided on that course when priests who did early in the expanded war began to die, forcing the Patriarchate to take a public position it preferred not do so, Mitrokhin says. Few Russian parishes are enthusiastic about the war or actively involved in getting people to serve there either from their own faithful or more generally, although many more are quite prepared to collect money and goods for humanitarian assistance, something they see as a Christian duty but not an indication of support for Putin’s political goals. Like what you read? Please consider supporting Eurasia Review. Thank you for your consideration!
Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, says Netanyahu
This is an entry from: Live: Trump says US is ‘only semi-negotiating’ with Iran Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, says Netanyahu 9 August 2026 23:16 BST Israel has rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza and will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. The Board of Peace, spearheaded by Trump, announced last month that it had made a breakthrough in a plan to end the war. Israel and Hamas agreed to the plan last year, beginning with a ceasefire. Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes on Gaza since agreeing to the ceasefire last October. Trump said that Hamas had agreed to lay down its weapons. “Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. Read more: Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, says Netanyahu
Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, says Netanyahu
Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, says Netanyahu
Worldview 'gulf' behind strained Australia-China ties, former Australian ambassador says
Worldview 'gulf' behind strained Australia-China ties, former Australian ambassador says
Worldview 'gulf' behind strained Australia-China ties, former Australian ambassador says
Worldview 'gulf' behind strained Australia-China ties, former Australian ambassador says Australia's former ambassador to China listed "diverging worldviews" as one of the many barriers to a healthy relationship. 3 min read Published Source: AAP Skip to article content Share this with family and friends IN BRIEF - Graham Fletcher has warned Australia's relationship with China will be "unlikely ever to become genuinely close". - China sparked widespread international condemnation over its launch of a ballistic missile into the South Pacific in July. Australia is unlikely ever to have a true partnership with China due to a mismatch of worldviews, rendering it pointless to pursue that goal, the nation's former top diplomat to China says. But in an analysis piece for the Lowy Institute, Australia's former ambassador to China Graham Fletcher noted several wildcards, such as Chinese military action in Taiwan, could still disrupt the "modest new normal" of the relationship. The change in government at the 2022 federal election acted as a circuit-breaker in increasingly fraught dealings between the nations, although they had still been marred by intimidatory military encounters involving Chinese forces, he said. China sparked widespread international condemnation over its launch of a ballistic missile into the South Pacific in July following the signing of a landmark mutual defence alliance between Australia and Fiji. The Albanese government sought to stabilise relations with China after diplomatic tensions peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic under then-prime minister Scott Morrison's leadership. News that makes sense Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox. China slapped $20 billion in trade sanctions on Australian exports, measures that have slowly been wound back. China is Australia's largest trading partner and is the destination for about a third of the nation's exports. Fletcher said China had not given up hope of drawing Australia closer into its orbit, while Australia was more focused on consolidating its current relationship. "But this relationship is unlikely ever to become genuinely close — like the relaxed, intimate fellowship Australia enjoys with like-minded partners elsewhere in its region and beyond," he said. "The gulf in terms of diverging world views and national security agendas is simply too wide. "It would be pointless for Canberra to pursue such a goal; it recognises this and is realistic." The "mismatch" of world views made the relationship vulnerable to disruption, with key risks including another round of serious disagreements or the cataclysm of a conflict, including the use of force against Taiwan. "An upheaval or conflict is always a possibility, though not in my opinion a strong one at present," the former diplomat said. China considers Taiwan, a self-governed democracy, part of its territory. Australia would be on firmer ground when facing China if policies had cross-party support and politicians did not "seek to exploit difficulties for domestic advantage", Fletcher said. "Bipartisanship produces policy consistency and limits China's ability to play games within the Australian system," he said. Fletcher was Australia's ambassador to China from 2019 to 2023 and led the negotiating team in 2014 that helped seal a free trade agreement between the two nations. For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
Moscow, Kyiv assassins hunt weapons bosses as Ukraine war spills beyond the battlefield
A dangerous new front is emerging in the Russia-Ukraine war as attackers and alleged intelligence operatives increasingly target executives and engineers developing the cutting-edge drone technology that is reshaping the battlefield, industry experts warned Sunday. The attacks include an Aug. 4 car bombing near Yekaterinburg that critically injured Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Russian drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, and killed his driver, according to Russian state news agency TASS, The Associated Press reported. His company produces the "Upyr," or "Ghoul," a first-person-view attack drone used by Russian forces in Ukraine. 'A NEW KIND OF WAR': INSIDE UKRAINE'S HIDDEN FACTORIES MASS-PRODUCING COMBAT DRONES Days earlier, Andrei Cherezov, head of another Russian drone company, was shot three times in Tula overnight July 28-29 in an apparent assassination attempt, according to Ukrainian outlet Pravda. Authorities have not publicly attributed either attack to Ukraine. Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell told Fox News Digital that the rise in attacks comes as Russia and Ukraine race for an edge in drone warfare, making the relatively small number of people responsible for developing new technology increasingly important targets. "When you can't take out all the distributed infrastructure, drone manufacturing leadership becomes the primary target," Chell said. "These strikes in Russia and Ukraine and Germany on founders, leaders, engineers of defense and, in particular, drone-type companies are down to drones and these companies having such an impact themselves." UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO "Because drone technology evolves rapidly — often with significant iterations occurring every 10 to 30 days — targeting a key engineer, founder, or product lead creates immediate operational disruptions on the battlefield." "Taking out a particular engineer or taking out a particular leader can set a very important weapons program back quite some time and disrupt shipments to the front line," Chell added. German authorities have also arrested two suspected operatives accused of spying on a Bavarian drone manufacturer for Russian intelligence, while reports this month said the alleged operation included preparations to target company executive Stefan Thumann, according to Germany’s Die Zeit. The case follows a reported 2024 plot disrupted by U.S. and German intelligence to target Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES 'THE FUTURE IS HERE' AFTER WAR'S FIRST ALL-ROBOT CAPTURE Chell said as Ukraine and Russia push toward artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons systems, engineers developing those technologies are more strategically important. "What we see in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is nobody in the loop — total autonomy is the direction things are going because it moves with more speed and precision," Chell said. "AI and total autonomy are the big innovations for the next 18 months, so a potential reason we could see more targeted activity against leaders is because Ukrainians have that technology advantage." "Targeting small drone companies is a relatively easy operation compared to targeting individuals in state-run weapons programs," he said. "It is a fairly inexpensive, low-risk tactic for intelligence agencies that yields an immediate impact on the battlefield, and that's why we've seen this tactic." "It is a very interesting turn or tactic that's being played by both sides here." Chell highlighted how Russia and Ukraine approach such plots differently. "I wouldn't suggest one side has an advantage over the other in terms of tactics, but psychologically, it has a deeper effect on the Russian side," Chell said. UKRAINE UNLEASHES MORE THAN 400 DRONES NEAR MOSCOW IN ONE OF WAR'S BIGGEST ATTACKS "The volume of drone advantage will remain with the Russians for the foreseeable future, but the innovation of drones, tactics, and technology lies with the Ukrainians right now." "Ukraine faces an existential threat, so they are ready for anything. Their tactics tend to be much more blunt — a direct shooter in a hallway or a car bomb," he added. "The Russian tactics tend to be much more state-organized, using old Cold War tactics: low-level contacts, extensive intelligence and surveillance ahead of time, and inserting into other countries like Germany," he said. "The Russians have a long-standing, well-established intelligence infrastructure dating back to World War II and the Cold War." TRUMP IS PROVING THAT THE WAY TO BETTER OUR MILITARY IS TO SECURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS As the drone manufacturing industry takes greater precautions, Chell maintained that threats against companies and individuals in the defense supply chain are receiving increased scrutiny. "We are very cognizant of it, and we're in contact with the proper authorities to make sure we're taking precautions on both a cyber and physical level to ensure we're at less risk," he said. "We certainly don't take anything for granted." "There are training and programs in place to ensure executives have a level of safety, primarily around awareness, cybersecurity, and physical location protection," Chell added before stating that the attacks and attempted assassinations have "heightened the conversation around it." CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP "We as an industry are taking it with a measured amount more seriously," he said.
Moscow, Kyiv assassins hunt weapons bosses as Ukraine war spills beyond the battlefield
Moscow, Kyiv assassins hunt weapons bosses as Ukraine war spills beyond the battlefield
Pope Leo renews call for Ukraine war to end
Pope Leo renews call for Ukraine war to end
Pope Leo renews call for Ukraine war to end
Pope Leo renews call for Ukraine war to end Pope Leo says innocent people are being killed and wounded in Ukraine and Russia, and has called for an end to the conflict. "Tragic incidents are multiplying, causing an ever-growing number of civilian victims, including children," the pontiff said before worshippers gathered for Sunday's Angelus prayer. "I renew my heartfelt appeal for international humanitarian law to be respected and for attacks against civilian targets to cease on both sides," the pope added. More than 16,000 civilians have been killed in more than four years of fighting, according to the United Nations, the overwhelming majority of them Ukrainian. The UN human rights office said in July civilian injuries and deaths had increased by more than a third in Ukraine in the first half of the year, driven by rising numbers of drone attacks. Meanwhile Kyiv is also responding with waves of drone attacks on Russia. A UN official said last month civilians living in Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation and inside Russia were also being killed. Ukraine's Odesa seaport sustained damage from an overnight Russian attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday, adding that eight people had been wounded in the city. Five people died in a Ukrainian overnight drone attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, the regional crisis centre said on Sunday. Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians in their attacks.
Trump Says "We Are Low Keying It" With Iran As Options For Walking Away Have Drastically Narrowed
Trump Says "We Are Low Keying It" With Iran As Options For Walking Away Have Drastically Narrowed Iran's IRGC is holding the line, reiterating that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen to international shipping only after the United States accepts all of its conditions, which we outlined previously. Also, on Saturday Iran's army spokesman Amir Akraminia stated that Iran's new protocols in the Strait of Hormuz are "irreversible" and shall not be thwarted by the US. "The United States has no choice but to accept the existing situation; otherwise, it will incur costs far greater than those it has faced in the past," Akraminia said. "The United States has no choice but to accept the existing situation; otherwise, it will incur costs far greater than those it has faced in the past," Akraminia had added. On Sunday, a fresh report in The Wall Street Journal states the obvious - that President Trump has fewer and fewer options and is being squeezed, with any opportunity to declare 'victory' and make swift exit more elusive than ever, given Washington would have to make huge compromises, including lifting sanctions and paying war compensation to Tehran. Nearly six months ago when the war started, many non-interventionist critics accurately predicted that the current quagmire and catch-22 the US now finds itself in is precisely where things would end up. "For weeks, President Trump had been laying the groundwork to declare victory in the Iran war should Tehran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even floating the idea privately to senior aides that he’s willing to walk away without a nuclear deal, U.S. officials said," WSJ writes. AFP/Getty Images "But that scaled-back objective became more difficult when Iran insisted Saturday on its highest price yet for permitting the free flow of traffic in the waterway, seeking billions of dollars in U.S. payments, the removal of American troops from the region and an end of the U.S. naval blockade, among other things," the report adds. In a parallel vein to this scaled-back, lower grade conflict, President Trump has freshly told Axios in a brief interview that "We are low keying it" in the Persian Gulf. This comes after a week ago he called off 'planned' 'harder' attacks on Iran, which may have been just a bluff all along. Tehran didn't blink, and it continues to press for maximal demands - as if to put 'maximum pressure' right back on Washington. "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money," Trump claimed. According to more from Axios: He stressed that Iran "is in very bad shape" economically and has no money to pay its troops. The U.S. naval blockade has exacerbated the Iranian regime's economic crisis, Trump said. At the same time, Trump said that with oil down to slightly over $75 a barrel, U.S. consumers are feeling less pain from the war. Ironically, this is simply a return to administration talking points which defended the early days and weeks of a war that officials constantly touted would be 'swift' and limited. The US hope was that Iran and its economy would just collapse from within, the masses would take to the streets, and the government of the Ayatollah would be overthrown. This has proven delusional time and again. Instead, what we see happening is Washington being forced to move its bases back from front line areas in the Gulf, and officials including Trump himself constantly retreating from stated goals, objectives, and red lines. This is on display once again in the Sunday Axios interview: Axios acknowledges that the new list of Iranian demands have gone from being the prerequisite for a nuclear deal to a prerequisite to opening the Strait. Trump now says the US is “low keying it” and focusing on economic pressure. In other words: the Strait will not be opening. https://t.co/AweQabOB8W pic.twitter.com/3TMsxXcfh7 — barry with the NED (@bonzerbarry) August 9, 2026 In the meantime, there have been various op-ed moments throughout the conflict where The Wall Street Journal has cheer-led Operation Epic Fury. But now that political desperation has set in, and the Iranians smell blood in the water - knowing they can play hardball and extract a bigger cost from the US - even the WSJ has been forced to drastically change its tune: Iran’s ability to essentially choke off the waterway through sporadic missile and drone attacks has proven to be powerful leverage for the country, stalling commercial traffic and roiling global oil markets. Trump has declared repeatedly in recent weeks that the Strait of Hormuz was already fully open, but each of those promises has proven premature. Now, with less than three months until the midterm elections and the price of gasoline still much higher than it was before the war started in late February, Trump has been looking for ways to tell the American public that the war is won. It will be quite the spectacle if eventually a desperate Trump White House is forced to lift sanctions and hand over some form of war compensation. WSJ notes further, "One major complication for the Trump administration is money." "Iran is seeking billions of dollars in war reparations in addition to an agreement to unfreeze the country’s assets around the world," the report adds. "Trump has said the White House wouldn’t allow any taxpayer money to go to Iran, although a deal appears unlikely without the U.S. unfreezing some assets, possibly with conditions attached." Trump should have listened to the non-interventionists and he wouldn't have put himself and the American people in this mess. American troops would not have been caught so flat-footed and directly in harm's way (given what was clearly lack of proper US military planning and preparedness for Iran to fight back as fiercely as it did), and hundreds of Iranian civilian lives - including massacred schoolgirls - would have been sparred. Tyler Durden Sun, 08/09/2026 - 16:55
Trump Says "We Are Low Keying It" With Iran As Options For Walking Away Have Drastically Narrowed
Trump Says "We Are Low Keying It" With Iran As Options For Walking Away Have Drastically Narrowed
Murphy says Israel ‘not aligned’ with U.S. national security objectives
Murphy says Israel ‘not aligned’ with U.S. national security objectives
Murphy says Israel ‘not aligned’ with U.S. national security objectives
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday said Israel is “not aligned” with U.S. national security objectives, citing their actions in the Gaza strip and discourse amid the war in Iran. “I want there to be a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. I support Israel. I cannot support this government's actions. They are not aligned with U.S. national...
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan form mutual defense pact as Iran war and Houthi attacks reshape regional security
The new mutual defense agreement commits the three countries to treat an attack on one member as an attack on all, deepening military cooperation as war with Iran and renewed Houthi attacks place growing pressure on regional security. The agreement, formally named the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement," was announced in a joint statement carried by the official Saudi press agency and Pakistan's foreign ministry. The three governments described the pact as reflecting a "shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and to promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond." Pakistan's foreign ministry said the arrangement is "intended to strengthen collective deterrence" and confirmed that an attack against any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all of them. The pact comes as Saudi Arabia reassesses its security relationships during the war between the United States and Iran, a conflict that has spread instability across the region and disrupted maritime traffic through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Iran and the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen have attacked Saudi Arabia, while Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats against Red Sea shipping have increased pressure on Gulf energy exporters. Analysts have also pointed to growing concern in Riyadh that Washington can no longer be relied upon as the kingdom's sole security guarantor. Saudi and Turkish officials sought to emphasize that the agreement should not be interpreted as the creation of an alliance directed at a specific adversary. Ankara said the pact was "not aimed at any particular country," according to a statement from the Turkish presidency's communications director. Saudi Arabia similarly rejected suggestions that the agreement represented the formation of a new regional military bloc. Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said: "The agreement does not represent an effort to establish a military axis or a sectarian bloc. Nor is it linked to any nuclear ambitions or arms race, rather it is focused on building sustainable capabilities. The agreement does not constitute a threat to the security of any country in the region."The timing nevertheless places Iran at the center of much of the regional calculation surrounding the agreement. Since the wider war began, Saudi Arabia has strengthened its relationships with Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt, all of which have supported mediation and efforts to end the conflict. Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi foreign policy at the University of Birmingham in England, said the developing alignment "is clearly oriented towards Iran and meant to address Iran's new strategic approach which is geared towards dominance of the broader Gulf region." Turkey and Pakistan may also bring forms of influence that Saudi Arabia does not possess on its own because both countries share borders with Iran. Karim said their geographic position allows them to "exercise a different kind of leverage" on Tehran. The agreement was not conceived solely in response to the latest fighting. A source close to the Saudi military and government said the arrangement had been under discussion for an extended period, but that "the latest developments in the region expedite it." The deteriorating security environment appears to have accelerated a process already underway as Riyadh sought additional defense relationships beyond its longstanding dependence on Washington. Andreas Krieg of King's College London said: "The pact reflects Saudi Arabia's desire to diversify its security architecture rather than abandon its relationship with the United States. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are not trying to replace the United States. They are building the capacity to protect their interests when Washington cannot or will not do so."For Riyadh, Krieg said, the strategy is increasingly about creating overlapping sources of protection. Saudi Arabia "wants several layers of security rather than one American umbrella," he said, particularly after the shock created by the Iran war. The agreement could also advance Saudi ambitions to become a central organizer of regional security while reducing reliance on a single outside power. Turkey and Pakistan, meanwhile, stand to gain additional political influence as well as potential access to Saudi investment. The signing was accompanied by high-level meetings in the kingdom. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Mecca on Friday, according to the Turkish presidency. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir also traveled to Saudi Arabia for the agreement. The three-country pact builds on an earlier Saudi-Pakistani mutual defense agreement announced in 2025. That arrangement attracted particular attention because Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed country in the Muslim world. Saudi officials have now stressed that the expanded agreement with Turkey should not be interpreted as part of a nuclear weapons strategy or regional arms race. The worsening conflict with the Houthis has added another layer of urgency for Riyadh. A truce between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed movement in neighboring Yemen has broken down, with Houthi forces once again attacking Saudi territory and declaring a maritime blockade against the kingdom. The Houthis have attempted to enforce that blockade through attacks on Saudi tankers, adding new dangers to commercial shipping already affected by Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis since 2015. A truce reached four years ago largely restrained the conflict until fighting intensified again in recent weeks. The renewed hostilities have produced some of the heaviest casualties seen in years. On Thursday, Houthi missile and drone strikes killed at least 58 Yemeni government troops, according to a military source, making it one of the deadliest days in the conflict in recent years. Against that backdrop, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement gives Saudi Arabia another formal layer of military cooperation as it confronts threats from Iran, renewed Houthi operations and increasingly vulnerable maritime trade routes. Turkey and Pakistan insist the pact is not aimed at any single state, while Saudi Arabia says it is intended to build durable defensive capabilities rather than establish a new military axis.