Pakistan

Under the agreement, signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey and sent to parliament for approval last month, an attack on one party constitutes an attack on all.

Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir – Pakistan's chief mediator in its efforts to de-escalate the now eight-month-old Iran war – has been to Tehran twice this month, most recently on Monday.

Saudi Arabia can strengthen ties with Pakistan and Turkey while keeping the door open to normalization with Israel.

A father accused of filming his children for international buyers is among the suspects investigated in Pakistan's expanding crackdown on online child exploitation.

Qatar urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt threats against Gulf states, saying Tehran must demonstrate goodwill for mediation efforts to succeed.

State media said Khamenei had stressed the importance of pursuing Iran's interests and maintaining its conditions for ending the war.

The test in Tehran is whether the countries can come away with something practical. Skeptics about the pact's members have argued that the three countries are not making the agreement have teeth.

Saudi Arabia will be represented by Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Pakistan by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, the people said on condition of anonymity.

The permanent secretariat, rotating leadership, regular ministerial meetings, and provision to admit new members suggest something more ambitious than a typical defense-cooperation memorandum.

In a statement, the ministry said the accord, signed in Doha, would also support military exercises and training, cooperation on research and development, and both countries' defense industries.