Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has explicitly linked the future development and security of Gulf nations to their decision on whether to continue hosting US and Israeli military operations. The message, issued more than a month into the Iran-US war, is one of the most direct diplomatic communications Iran has made to its neighbours since hostilities began. Tehran is clearly attempting to use economic and security incentives as leverage in its diplomatic approach to the region.
The Gulf region has become deeply enmeshed in the conflict, with nations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar hosting American military facilities that have been used to strike Iran. Iran has responded to these strikes with retaliatory attacks on those host countries, creating a dynamic where Gulf nations are absorbing the consequences of a war they did not choose. The political and economic pressure on Gulf governments has been immense.
Pezeshkian posted on X to communicate Iran’s core military position: no preemptive attacks, but guaranteed retaliation for strikes on Iranian infrastructure or economic sites. His appeal to Gulf leaders was grounded in the logic of mutual regional interest, arguing that their collective futures depend on refusing to allow enemies to use their territory for military purposes. The statement was designed to resonate with Gulf populations suffering from the consequences of ongoing fighting.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has led an active diplomatic effort to mediate the conflict, engaging Iranian leadership and acting as a go-between for regional parties. Sharif’s meeting with Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran sees trust-building as the first and most essential step before formal negotiations can begin. Pakistan has received explicit praise from Tehran for its role in advancing the peace process.
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey have gathered in Pakistan for a multilateral diplomatic consultation focused on ending the conflict. Their discussions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif are geared toward identifying shared positions on de-escalation. The gathering signals that regional actors are uniting around the need for a political solution and the urgency of stopping the war before it causes further devastation.