As the Iran-US war drags on past its first month, Tehran has put Gulf neighbors under mounting pressure, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning that continued hosting of US and Israeli military operations will cost them their security and development. His statement on X was directed at Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and other Gulf states. The message reflects Iran’s growing impatience with a regional status quo it sees as enabling the war against it.
Gulf countries have been drawn into the conflict through American military infrastructure on their soil. US forces have used these facilities to strike Iran, drawing Tehran’s retaliatory strikes into Gulf territory. The situation has made Gulf governments reluctant participants in a war they did not enter by choice, facing pressure from both the US and Iran.
Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran does not initiate strikes but will retaliate powerfully when its economic or infrastructure targets are attacked. He told Gulf leaders that allowing foreign forces to direct the war from their territory makes them part of the problem, not bystanders. His message is a combination of strategic warning and an appeal for regional solidarity against outside military interference.
Pakistan’s diplomatic involvement has been welcomed by Tehran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that during his conversation with Pezeshkian, the Iranian leader emphasized that trust is essential before peace talks can begin. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has organized a multilateral ministerial meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey focused on de-escalation.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will lead the discussions and arrange meetings with Prime Minister Sharif. Tehran has praised Islamabad’s mediation efforts and expressed hope that the diplomatic process will gain momentum. The Islamabad talks represent the region’s best opportunity to shift the conflict’s trajectory toward a negotiated resolution.