Marking more than a month of active conflict with the United States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has delivered a stark warning to Gulf neighbors, telling them their security and development cannot be guaranteed while they continue to host American and Israeli war operations. The warning was shared through a post on X and was directed at governments in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and beyond. Pezeshkian used the moment to articulate Iran’s position clearly and publicly.
The war has caused significant regional disruption. Gulf states hosting US military bases have found themselves in the direct line of Iranian retaliation as Tehran responds to strikes launched from those locations. The conflict has blurred the line between passive hosts and active participants, creating political complications for Gulf governments navigating their security relationships.
Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s military policy is defensive and retaliatory, not preemptive, but insisted that attacks on Iranian economic or infrastructure assets will be answered with force. He called on Gulf leaders to remove enemy military operations from their territories, arguing this is the only route to securing genuine development and stability. His message combines an appeal to self-interest with a warning about the consequences of inaction.
Pakistan has taken on a constructive and growing diplomatic role. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pezeshkian emphasized trust as the cornerstone of any future negotiations during their conversations. Pakistan is hosting a significant multilateral diplomatic meeting with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in Islamabad to explore paths toward de-escalation.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will chair the discussions and also arrange meetings with Prime Minister Sharif. Tehran has expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts and acknowledged the complexity of the challenge ahead. The Islamabad talks may provide the diplomatic framework needed to transform the current impasse into a genuine peace process.