As diplomacy around the Iran-US war accelerates, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has been pushing Gulf nations to break away from the US war effort, linking their own security and development to this decision. His message, issued more than a month into the conflict, reflects Tehran’s dual approach of maintaining military pressure while seeking diplomatic openings. Iran appears determined to use the war’s regional fallout to reshape Gulf alignments.
The conflict has had a direct impact on Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, which have been caught between their alliance with the United States and the retaliatory strikes Iran has directed at them. The cycle of US attacks on Iran and Iranian counterstrikes on host nations has created a deeply unstable situation across the Gulf. Gulf governments are under growing pressure to act independently to protect their own interests.
Pezeshkian posted on X that Iran’s military doctrine is defensive but unyielding in its commitment to retaliate against attacks on Iranian infrastructure or economic centres. He appealed to Gulf leaders to stop allowing enemies to use their territory for military operations against Iran, framing this as the rational and necessary choice for governments that want security and development. The message was both a warning and a strategic appeal.
Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative has been one of the most active in the region, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif serving as a reliable intermediary between Iran and other regional actors. His meeting with Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran sees trust as the essential foundation for any formal peace process. Pakistan’s contributions to the peace effort have been publicly praised by Tehran.
A multilateral diplomatic consultation in Pakistan is bringing together senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey for intensive discussions on the conflict. Their meetings with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif are focused on practical strategies for ending the war. The gathering represents a significant diplomatic moment in the search for a political solution to the conflict.
