New Delhi: Iran is quietly establishing an unprecedented alliance with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which has the potential to significantly alter the power dynamics in the Middle East and challenge Israel’s regional dominance.
Diplomatic channels are buzzing. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has taken personal charge of wooing Ankara, while Tehran’s foreign minister maintains near-constant contact with Turkish counterparts. Parallel efforts are underway to bring Riyadh on board. If these three heavyweight Muslim nations strike a deal, Israel’s unchallenged sway over the region could face its toughest test yet.
The timing isn’t coincidence. Israel has spent the past year systematically weakening Iran-backed groups — Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. It has carried out pinpoint strikes across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and even Iran itself, often with little meaningful pushback. A recent attack on Qatar heightened tensions, leading Gulf states to reevaluate their security framework.
Iran sees opportunity in the anxiety. By pulling Turkey and Saudi Arabia into a coordinated front, Tehran hopes to counter Israel’s military edge with sheer combined strength.
Part of the story is revealed by the numbers. Turkey fields over 600,000 active troops, backed by more than 2,200 tanks, a thousand aircraft, and NATO membership. Saudi Arabia commands a sleek, Western-equipped air force with F-15s, typhoons, and tornado jets, as well as a fresh defence pact with Pakistan that includes nuclear security guarantees. Iran brings nearly 600,000 soldiers, thousands of ballistic missiles, and battle-tested Shahed drones — assets already in use by Russia in Ukraine.
Together, the trio would control key geography, vast oil wealth, and enough firepower to deter aggression. More importantly, their alignment would signal a rare moment of Muslim unity against a common adversary.
Currently, discussions are taking place in private. However, in a region where alliances are constantly shifting, the mere suggestion of this partnership has raised concerns in Tel Aviv.