Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly challenged Gulf leaders to reclaim their sovereignty by refusing to allow US and Israeli forces to use their territory to wage war against Iran. Delivered more than a month into the Iran-US conflict, his message blends diplomatic pressure with an appeal to regional self-determination. Iran is clearly attempting to reframe the conflict as a matter of Gulf sovereignty rather than simply a bilateral dispute.
The ongoing war has had significant spillover effects across the Gulf region, as American military installations in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar have served as launching pads for strikes on Iranian targets. Iran has responded with its own strikes on those host nations, making Gulf governments unwilling participants in a broader military confrontation. The toll on civilian infrastructure and political stability in these countries has been substantial.
Pezeshkian communicated directly with Gulf leaders through a post on X, stating that Iran’s policy is one of response rather than aggression. He made clear, however, that retaliation for any attack on Iranian infrastructure or economic centres would be strong and deliberate. His appeal to Gulf neighbours centred on the argument that development and security are incompatible with hosting an enemy’s military campaign against a neighbouring state.
Pakistan has assumed a leading role in regional peacemaking, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif actively engaging Iranian leadership and other parties to the conflict. Sharif’s conversations with Pezeshkian indicate that Tehran believes meaningful dialogue can only proceed once a foundation of trust has been laid. Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed that Iran has praised Islamabad’s even-handed efforts to bring the parties together.
A high-level diplomatic meeting in Pakistan is gathering momentum, with foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey arriving to discuss shared strategies for ending the conflict. Their meetings with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif are focused on developing a coherent regional position on de-escalation. The breadth of participation in these talks reflects the widespread view that the conflict has reached a critical juncture.