Pakistan’s Approach and National Interests in the Iran Conflict and the Balance Between Iran and Saudi Arabia

The balance between relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran remains a key element of Pakistan’s foreign policy, as the country seeks both to strengthen strategic partnerships and to preserve its role as a mediator in the tense geopolitical environment of the Middle East.

The position of Saudi Arabia and Iran

In recent years, the collaborations, consultations, and discussions between the two countries regarding ways and opportunities for joint and new cooperation have been accelerated. Pakistan’s economy is facing extensive economic bottlenecks such as the unemployment rate, lack of water and energy, and foreign debts. Pakistan’s leaders are aware of the importance of Riyadh’s investment. The population of skilled and unskilled Pakistani immigrants (nearly two million people) and their annual remittances of billions of dollars play an important role in relation. In the meantime, the recent protocol to accelerate the deployment of Pakistani skilled workers could have a role in Pakistan becoming closer to a $3 trillion economy.

Iran provided a lot of help in the Indo-Pakistan War (1965) and the crisis of 1971 AD. In 2025, Iran and Pakistan have adopted common positions on regional and international issues, from defending Palestine and promoting regional peace and sustainable development, etc. In the last year, Pakistan, along with Russia, China, and Algeria, has firmly supported and backed Tehran in the UN Security Council, and condemned the Israeli attack on Iran.

Pakistan’s national interests

In June 2025, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described Israel as a state with “hegemonic intent” whose recent actions against Iran are “very dangerous for the region.” Even now Pakistan’s position towards Israel against Iran is sharp and........

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