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Central Treaty Organization
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Organisation

Central Treaty Organization

Cold War defence pact of Britain, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, dissolved 1979.

Dissolved in 1979 after Iran's revolution, the Central Treaty Organization is the Cold War precedent for the Mecca pact states whose security chiefs met in Tehran on 26 October 2026.

Last refreshed: 29 October 2026

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Background

The Central Treaty Organization began as the Baghdad Pact on 24 February 1955. Iraq left after its 1958 revolution, and in 1959 the pact took the CENTO name, with Britain, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey as members. Its headquarters sat in Ankara from 1958.

Washington sat on CENTO's military committee but never became a full member. Iran's 1979 Revolution removed a core member, and the organisation dissolved that year.

CENTO is the precedent for any regional security bloc built round Turkey, Pakistan and Iran. That makes it a test for the 2026 Mecca pact: on 26 October its Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish security chiefs met Iran's Mohsen Rezaei in Tehran, and their joint text promised only more dialogue.

Common Questions
What was CENTO?
The Central Treaty Organization, a Cold War defence pact of Britain, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, founded as the Baghdad Pact in 1955 and dissolved in 1979.Source: Wikipedia: Central Treaty Organization
Why did CENTO collapse?
Iran's 1979 Revolution took Tehran out of the pact, and it was dissolved in March 1979.Source: Wikipedia: Central Treaty Organization
Was the United States a member of CENTO?
No. It backed the pact and sat on its military committee from 1958 but never became a full member.Source: Wikipedia: Central Treaty Organization
Source Material
Central Treaty Organization

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 29 October 2026. Editorial standards.