The conflict between Iran and the United States has taken center stage in regional diplomacy, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rallying Gulf neighbors to take a clear stand against foreign military operations on their soil. His message on X was directed at the governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, asking them to choose regional solidarity over continued military accommodation of the US and Israel. The message came more than a month into the war.
Gulf states have found themselves caught in the conflict’s orbit due to the US military installations on their soil. American strikes against Iran have been launched from these facilities, drawing Tehran’s retaliatory strikes into Gulf territory. The situation has imposed enormous costs on Gulf governments and populations who are now living with the direct consequences of a war they did not initiate.
Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran does not conduct preemptive attacks but will respond forcefully to any strikes on its infrastructure or economic assets. He urged Gulf governments to assert their sovereignty by refusing to host enemy military operations. His rallying message frames the issue as a question of regional identity and long-term self-interest.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts have been gaining traction. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Pezeshkian told him trust is the foundational requirement for any peace negotiations. Pakistan’s foreign ministry is organizing a high-level multilateral meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey focused on finding pathways to de-escalation.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar will chair the ministerial talks and also meet with Prime Minister Sharif. Tehran has praised Pakistan’s mediation and remains open to diplomatic engagement under the right conditions. The Islamabad summit may prove to be the turning point the region has been waiting for.
