A new defence pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan is not intended to attack or eliminate Iran, Turkey's foreign minister said, as observers view the deal as insurance against wider regional conflict. The pact was signed on Friday in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under its terms, an armed attack on any one of the three states is to be treated as an attack on all. In an interview with Anadolu Agency on Saturday, Hakan Fidan said Saudi Arabia had no strategy to attack or eliminate Iran, and instead wanted an end to violence around the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement comes as Washington's ability to guarantee regional security is in question, according to observers, who say it appears aimed at deterring Iran and Israel from letting their conflict tear up the Middle East.