As the conflict between Iran and the United States crosses the one-month threshold with no signs of abating, Tehran has sharpened its diplomatic messaging toward Gulf states. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly told neighbouring countries that hosting enemy military operations from their soil would compromise their own future. The warning came as part of a broader Iranian effort to reshape the regional calculus around the war.
Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman have become deeply entangled in a war they did not initiate, largely due to the US military footprint across their territories. Washington has used bases in these countries to strike Iranian targets, prompting retaliatory action from Tehran directed at those same host states. The resulting insecurity has forced Gulf governments into an uncomfortable and increasingly costly position.
Pezeshkian’s message, shared publicly on X, reiterated Iran’s stated military posture of non-initiation but strong retaliation. He specifically called on Gulf countries to prevent their soil from being used as a platform for attacks against Iran, arguing that doing so was the only path to genuine security and regional development. His appeal was careful to frame Iran not as an aggressor but as a neighbour defending itself.
Pakistan’s role in the ongoing peace effort has gained considerable recognition, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acting as a diplomatic conduit between Iran and other regional actors. Sharif’s discussions with Pezeshkian revealed that Tehran places trust-building at the heart of any viable negotiation process. Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed that Islamabad’s mediation had been warmly acknowledged by the Iranian side.
Senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are currently meeting in Pakistan for high-level discussions on how to reduce tensions and move toward an end to the conflict. Their engagement with Pakistani leadership, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif, is part of a coordinated regional response to the crisis. Observers say the breadth of the diplomatic outreach signals growing urgency to find a resolution before the situation deteriorates further.