A striking contradiction is playing out in West Asia: Iran is launching retaliatory missiles at Gulf nations while simultaneously asking those same nations to deny the forces causing those strikes. President Masoud Pezeshkian made this appeal explicitly on X, arguing that Gulf governments must choose between development and security on one hand, and hosting the US-Israel war machine on the other. The statement came as the conflict extended past one month.
Gulf nations — including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman — have all experienced Iranian strikes linked to American operations conducted from their bases. This has placed their governments in an excruciating bind, caught between security obligations to Washington and the physical reality of Iranian firepower. No easy solution has emerged for countries caught in this geopolitical vice.
Pezeshkian posted on X his country’s firm but reactive military doctrine, stating that Iran will never launch preemptive attacks but will retaliate fiercely against threats to its infrastructure or economic core. He then placed the burden of decision squarely on Gulf leaders, arguing that they hold the key to reducing the conflict by simply refusing to allow foreign powers to use their territory against Iran. It was a politically sophisticated appeal.
Pakistan has proven to be a capable and valued diplomatic intermediary. Prime Minister Sharif has engaged Pezeshkian directly and confirmed the Iranian president’s emphasis on trust as a prerequisite for peace talks. Iran’s public praise of Pakistan’s mediation role has given Islamabad standing across the regional diplomatic spectrum.
Pakistan is currently hosting a regional summit attended by foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is managing the process, and participants are discussing a wide array of de-escalation options. The talks are among the most substantive diplomatic engagements since the conflict erupted.