Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly called on Gulf nations to refuse American and Israeli forces the use of their land in the ongoing war against Iran. His comments came as the conflict entered its fifth week with no clear end in sight. The statement is among the most direct messages Iran has sent to its neighbours since the war began.
The Gulf region has been significantly affected by the conflict, with countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman caught in the crossfire. The United States has been launching attacks on Iran using military bases embedded in these Gulf nations. Iran has responded by striking back at those countries, escalating the risk for the entire Gulf neighbourhood.
Speaking through a post on the social media platform X, Pezeshkian underscored Iran’s policy of non-aggression while making clear that retaliation for strikes on Iranian infrastructure would be swift and decisive. He appealed to Gulf leaders with a simple but powerful argument: nations that host enemies conducting warfare on their behalf cannot expect to enjoy security or development in return. The message was framed as an appeal rooted in shared regional interests rather than a threat.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been working behind the scenes to create space for dialogue between the warring sides. He met with Pezeshkian and reported that the Iranian leader emphasized that trust must be built before talks can be initiated. Pakistan’s contributions to the peace process have been acknowledged and appreciated by Tehran’s leadership.
Adding to the diplomatic momentum, foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey are meeting in Pakistan over the weekend to deliberate on the war and regional stability. Their sessions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif are expected to produce coordinated positions on de-escalation. The multilateral nature of the diplomatic effort signals broad regional consensus that the conflict must be brought to an end.