In a significant diplomatic move, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly addressed Gulf nations with a stark warning tied to their security and development prospects. The message, delivered more than a month into the Iran-US war, calls on neighbours to refuse enemy forces the use of their territory. It marks one of Iran’s clearest attempts to diplomatically reshape the conflict’s regional dynamics.
The ongoing war has ensnared multiple Gulf nations, as the United States continues to operate its regional military infrastructure from bases in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman. These bases have been used as staging points for attacks on Iran, which has prompted Tehran to strike back at the host countries involved. The cycle of attacks has tested regional stability and placed Gulf governments in an extremely difficult diplomatic position.
Pezeshkian communicated his message through a post on X, where he asserted Iran’s defensive military doctrine while warning Gulf leaders that enabling enemies amounts to complicity in regional instability. He stated clearly that Iran would retaliate against any attacks on its infrastructure or economic centres. His appeal to Gulf countries was framed in terms of their own interests: no development or security can coexist with hosting a war against a neighbour.
Pakistan has emerged as a vital diplomatic bridge in the conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in active communication with both Iranian leadership and other regional actors. Sharif reported that Pezeshkian stressed the importance of establishing trust as a prerequisite to any formal negotiations. Pakistan’s efforts have been positively received in Tehran, reinforcing Islamabad’s position as a credible neutral party.
On Sunday and Monday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are meeting in Pakistan to coordinate their diplomatic responses to the war. These officials will also hold meetings with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif to align on strategies aimed at ending the hostilities. The multi-nation diplomatic effort reflects the widespread recognition that the conflict requires urgent and collective action to resolve.