A new regional alliance — Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, dubbed the Islamabad Quartet — is deepening ties with Iran and effectively replacing the U.S. security umbrella with a Chinese one. An Iranian civil aircraft already broke Yemen's 11-year blockade, and the MOU gives Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Where this was said
At 21:20 · chapter starts 19:55
Meiselas reveals one of the episode's most striking details: Iran's deliberate use of Quranic verses as diplomatic instruments during the funeral proceedings. Each foreign delegation was paired with a verse calculated to send a politically specific message. Saudi Arabia — with whom Iran has a complex new relationship — received a verse about two armies meeting in battle, one believing in God and one not. Turkey, a key NATO member, got a verse elevating those who fight over those who sit. Lebanon's government heard a verse about people refusing to sacrifice when called. Hezbollah was told directly: 'do not weaken or grieve, you are superior.' Hamas received a verse about men who fulfilled their covenant with God. Yemen's Houthis were praised as believers who fought without weakening. Qatar, the perennial mediator, received a verse about forgiveness and divine favor — a nod to its diplomatic role. Meiselas frames this as evidence that Iran is operating with considerable strategic sophistication, conducting diplomacy through religious symbolism at what was simultaneously a domestic and international event. [1] — Ben Meiselas "Iran didn't just hold a funeral — it conducted precision diplomatic messaging. Saudi Arabia got a verse about two armies meeting in battle.…" 19:55
Iran didn't just hold a funeral — it conducted precision diplomatic messaging. Saudi Arabia got a verse about two armies meeting in battle. Turkey got a verse elevating fighters over those who sit. Hezbollah was told 'you are superior.' Hamas received a verse about men fulfilling their covenant. Every verse was a strategic signal.
Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are forming what analysts call the 'Islamabad Quartet,' deepening ties with Iran and reshaping regional security architecture.
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