Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has challenged Gulf governments to act in their own best interest by ending their hosting of US and Israeli military operations against Iran. His message, delivered more than a month into the war, appeals directly to the pragmatic self-interest of Gulf leaders rather than to broader principles or alliances. Tehran is evidently seeking to separate Gulf nations from Washington by highlighting the costs they are bearing.
The war has imposed significant costs on countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, all of which host American military installations that have been used in the campaign against Iran. Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against those countries have compounded the damage. Gulf governments are now facing a situation where their alliance with Washington is costing them dearly in terms of security and economic stability.
Pezeshkian shared his position on X, reaffirming Iran’s defensive military posture while making clear that any attack on Iranian infrastructure or economic centres would be met with a powerful response. He appealed to Gulf leaders with a pragmatic argument: the cost of hosting enemy operations is too high, and the only path to security and development is to deny those enemies access to Gulf soil. The message was firm and carefully calibrated.
Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement has been one of the standout features of the international response to the conflict. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s active engagement with Iranian leadership and other regional parties has positioned Islamabad as a key peace broker. Sharif’s meeting with Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran sees trust-building as an essential precondition for any meaningful negotiations.
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are meeting in Pakistan for strategic diplomatic consultations on the conflict. Their discussions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif are focused on crafting a joint response to the war. The multilateral nature of the talks reflects the growing regional consensus that a collective political solution is urgently needed.
