Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly called out Gulf nations for their cooperation with the US military presence on their soil, warning that this cooperation jeopardizes their own security and development. At the same time, diplomatic channels are picking up speed in Pakistan, where a major multilateral meeting is being organized to address the crisis. Pezeshkian’s statement was posted on X more than a month into the war with the US.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have all become entangled in the conflict because American forces stationed in their territory have launched strikes against Iran. Tehran has retaliated with strikes in these countries, making the Gulf a secondary front in the conflict. Gulf governments are under increasing pressure from their own populations and from Tehran to chart a different course.
Pezeshkian was firm in his statement: Iran does not attack preemptively but will retaliate forcefully when its economic or infrastructure assets are struck. He urged Gulf leaders to stop enabling enemy operations from their land, arguing that doing so is the only way to protect their own security and development prospects. The message was both a warning and a strategic appeal for regional realignment.
Pakistan’s diplomatic role has become increasingly prominent. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Pezeshkian believes trust is the essential foundation for any peace talks. Pakistan’s foreign ministry is bringing together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in Islamabad for in-depth discussions on how to de-escalate the conflict.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will chair the ministerial talks and also meet with Prime Minister Sharif. Tehran has praised Islamabad’s mediation efforts as constructive and meaningful. The combination of Iran’s firm message and Pakistan’s diplomatic push represents the clearest signal yet that multiple actors are working toward an end to the war.