Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly confronted Gulf nations over their role in facilitating the US military campaign against Iran, urging them to stop enabling enemy operations from their territory. His remarks, made more than a month into the ongoing war, mark a significant escalation in Iran’s diplomatic rhetoric toward its neighbours. Tehran appears to be seeking to isolate Washington by appealing directly to the self-interest of Gulf governments.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have been caught in the conflict’s crossfire primarily due to the US military infrastructure hosted within their borders. American forces have reportedly used these facilities to conduct strikes against Iranian targets, leading Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks against those same nations. This has created a painful dilemma for Gulf governments, which must weigh their alliance with Washington against the mounting costs of Iranian retaliation.
Pezeshkian posted on X to clarify Iran’s military policy, affirming that Tehran does not initiate attacks but will respond strongly if its infrastructure or economic hubs are damaged. He directed a pointed message to Gulf neighbours, warning them that allowing hostile forces to direct operations against Iran from their land would forfeit their own security and development. The statement was framed as a choice rather than purely a threat.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken on the role of a trusted intermediary, engaging Iran’s leadership and other regional parties in a bid to create the conditions for peace talks. Following a meeting with Pezeshkian, Sharif confirmed that Iran’s president views trust as a necessary precondition to any negotiations. Pakistan’s standing as a neutral actor has been reinforced by Tehran’s public praise of Islamabad’s peace efforts.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are all participating in high-level diplomatic meetings in Pakistan to coordinate their collective response to the ongoing conflict. These talks, organised with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif, are focused on finding a pathway to de-escalation. The unprecedented scope of the diplomatic gathering underscores just how widely the war’s consequences are being felt across the region and beyond.