Middle East: Pakistan Caught Between Iran and Saudi Arabia

Since the beginning of September 2026, the situation in Yemen has deteriorated, according to information reported by RFI. Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have strengthened their grip on the Red Sea coast, now directly threatening Saudi Arabian interests, the media reports.

This escalation of tensions revives a longstanding rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh, two regional powers that have been confronting each other through proxy actors in Yemen for several years, RFI notes.

In this context, Pakistan finds itself in a particularly precarious position, according to the same source. Islamabad, described by RFI as a key regional player, is seeking to simultaneously maintain good relations with Iran, a neighboring country with which it has complex ties, and Saudi Arabia, its traditional strategic partner.

This situation is all the more sensitive given that Pakistan has just concluded a defense pact with Riyadh, according to RFI. This agreement strengthens military ties between the two countries while complicating Islamabad's diplomatic maneuvering room with Tehran.

RFI emphasizes that Pakistan must thus navigate between contradictory geopolitical, economic and security considerations, as the conflict between Houthis and Saudi Arabia continues to intensify in the region.