Country: Pakistan
Iran Is Named in 9 of the 17 Readout Items on Pakistan since Sept. 16
Iran and Turkey are tied as the countries named most often alongside Pakistan, at 9 items each. The pairing peaked at 3 items in the weeks of Sept. 22 to 28 and Oct. 6 to 12.
MEF's Daily Readout picks 5 stories a day on Middle East policy from each foreign press it monitors, in English. Here is every pick about Pakistan since Sept. 16, and the countries the press names with it.
Each block is one item.
- Iran named: 9
- Iran not named: 8
- Latest week, to date
Chart: Middle East Forum, from 17 Readout items. The first bar covers 6 days (Sept. 16 to 21), so its bar is drawn 6/7 as wide as a full week.
Named alongside Pakistan
Latest
- Oct. 12Foreign Ministry spokesman on speculation about Russia's mediation in talks: "Technically and in the precise sense, Pakistan and Qatar still act as mediators"
- Oct. 11Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia "in the strongest terms" condemned the Houthis' attacks in Riyadh
- Oct. 6The final agreement between Iran and the United States will resemble the Islamabad memorandum of understanding
- Oct. 5“Makkah Defense Alliance” activates deterrence measures in face of threats
- Oct. 5Will they join the fighting? Turkey and Pakistan will deploy forces in Saudi Arabia
Updated October 19, 2026, 12:19 p.m. ET. Sources and cut-off dates
In the Region's Press
- Persian 6
- Arabic 4
- Turkish 4
- Other 3
Chart: Middle East Forum, from 17 Readout items; Other: Urdu 2, Hebrew 1.
Week of Oct. 6 to 12
Foreign Ministry spokesman on speculation about Russia's mediation in talks: "Technically and in the precise sense, Pakistan and Qatar still act as mediators" / "Our consultations with Moscow on various issues including nuclear are not new"
Entekhab reported that the Foreign Ministry spokesman said Pakistan and Qatar continue to serve in a mediation role for talks between Tehran and Washington.
Also: Iran, Qatar, Russia, United States
Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia "in the strongest terms" condemned the Houthis' attacks in Riyadh
Anadolu reported that Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia "in the strongest terms" condemned the Iran-backed Houthis' attacks on Riyadh.
Also: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Turkey
The final agreement between Iran and the United States will resemble the Islamabad memorandum of understanding
IRNA reported the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations wrote a final Iran-United States agreement would resemble the Islamabad memorandum, including concessions on sanctions and frozen assets.
Also: Iran, United States
Latest MEF Analysis
Week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 5
“Makkah Defense Alliance” activates deterrence measures in face of threats
Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey decided to move immediately to implement the Makkah Defense Alliance's commitments and provide forces.
Also: Saudi Arabia, Turkey
Will they join the fighting? Turkey and Pakistan will deploy forces in Saudi Arabia
Israel Hayom reported that Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement for swift deployment of troops and assets to the kingdom amid the Yemen crisis.
Also: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey
Saudi Arabia: Makkah Covenant Committee Agreed on "Collective Deterrent Measures" Against Ansarallah
Entekhab reported the Saudi defense minister said the Makkah Covenant committee agreed to activate "collective deterrent measures" against Ansarallah, with Turkey and Pakistan participating.
Also: Saudi Arabia, Turkey
"Hormuz first" in its negotiations with the United States: Tehran affirms openness to diplomacy in return for adherence to the terms of the Islamabad memorandum
Al-Ahram reported that Tehran says it is open to diplomacy if the United States adheres to terms of the Islamabad memorandum, prioritizing ‘‘Hormuz first’’.
Also: Iran, United States
Turkish and Pakistani aid.. and Sudanese mercenaries: Riyadh prepares for the attack.. and Sanaa tightens the siege on Taiz
Al-Akhbar reported that Sanaa forces captured the town of Turbah, tightened a siege on Taiz and warned of a Saudi assault involving ‘‘Makkah’’-allied units.
Also: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey
Araghchi has received the U.S. response to the "seven-day plan" proposal and will discuss it in Tehran today/ The main disagreement is about the order of implementing the steps, not about the provisions and elements of the plan/ The seven-day plan describes a return to an enhanced version of the Islamabad understanding/ Araghchi and his team met last night in Doha with Qatari mediators
Entekhab reported that Abbas Araghchi received the U.S. response to the "seven-day plan" and will discuss it in Tehran today.
Also: Iran, Qatar, United States
Week of Sept. 22 to 28
Iranian President Pezeşkiyan said the Mecca alliance is a step taken for the unity of Muslims
Anadolu reported that Iranian President Mesud Pezeşkiyan said the Mecca Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan is a step toward Muslim unity.
Also: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
President: US must respond, is it ready for dialogue or wants to disrupt the game?
IRNA quoted the President saying talks are ongoing via intermediaries including Qatar and Pakistan and that the US must now respond.
Also: Qatar, United States
Breaking News | Saudi Arabia called the chiefs of staff of Turkey and Pakistan to an urgent meeting
Halk TV reported that Saudi Arabia summoned Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs for an urgent meeting to discuss backing Riyadh under the joint defense agreement.
Also: Saudi Arabia, Turkey
Iran agrees to support Islamabad memorandum of understanding, vows to accelerate peace efforts
ARY Urdu quoted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian agreed to support the Islamabad memorandum of understanding and will accelerate peace efforts.
Also: Iran
Rangers deployed in Islamabad and some districts of Punjab before PTI long march
Independent Urdu reported that Rangers have been deployed in Islamabad and some Punjab districts ahead of PTI's long march scheduled for 27 September.
US Insists on Fundamental Changes to Islamabad Agreement; Iran Objects
ILNA reported the US insists on fundamental changes to the Islamabad agreement while Pakistan and Qatar mediate and Iran objects to major revisions.
Also: Iran, Qatar, United States
Week of Sept. 16 to 21
Threatening responses of "بلا رحمة": Iran expects a new attack on it
Al-Akhbar reported that Iran, amid mediation efforts by Pakistan Turkey and Qatar, expects a new attack and threatens to target US interests "without mercy" if struck.
Also: Iran, Qatar, Turkey, United States
Houthi official's audacious threat to Turkey: 'We will strike with an iron fist'
Yeni Akit quoted Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti as warning Turkey and Pakistan would be struck "with an iron fist" if they intervened.