Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly called on Gulf nations to make a fundamental choice between their alliance with the United States and their own security and development. His message, delivered as the Iran-US war surpassed its first month, frames the conflict as a question of sovereign self-interest for Gulf governments. Tehran is clearly pursuing a strategy of peeling Gulf nations away from Washington by emphasising the costs they are bearing.
Countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have been caught in the crossfire of the conflict due to the US military presence on their soil. Iranian retaliatory strikes against those host nations have inflicted real damage on their economies and infrastructure. The accumulating costs have raised serious doubts among Gulf governments about the wisdom of their current security arrangements.
On X, Pezeshkian outlined Iran’s defensive military posture while promising a strong response to any attack on Iranian infrastructure or economic centres. He then made a pointed appeal to Gulf leaders, arguing that the path to genuine security and development requires denying enemy forces the ability to use Gulf territory as a war platform. The message was carefully crafted to appeal to Gulf governments’ rational self-interest.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking a leading role in facilitating dialogue. After meeting Pezeshkian, Sharif reported that Iran insists on trust as a precondition for any peace negotiations. Pakistan’s even-handed approach has earned it praise from Tehran and recognition across the region.
A high-level diplomatic meeting in Pakistan is gathering foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. Working alongside Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif, these officials are focused on developing a unified approach to de-escalating the conflict. The talks are being described as one of the most substantive diplomatic efforts since the war began.