Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has framed Gulf security as fundamentally a matter of the choices Gulf governments make, telling them that development and security are achievable only if they stop enabling enemy military operations. His message, delivered more than a month into the war, places the responsibility for Gulf security squarely on the shoulders of Gulf leaders themselves. Tehran is making a sophisticated diplomatic argument that combines deterrence with an appeal to self-determination.
Countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman have been significantly affected by the conflict through their hosting of US military forces that have attacked Iran. Iranian retaliatory strikes against those nations have compounded the damage. Gulf governments are now confronting a situation in which their security choices have direct and immediate consequences for their own populations.
On X, Pezeshkian communicated Iran’s military stance of non-aggression while guaranteeing strong retaliation for any attack on Iranian infrastructure or economic assets. He then appealed to Gulf leaders to take ownership of their security by denying enemy forces access to their territory, framing this as the key to genuine development and stability. The message was designed to empower Gulf governments to act independently of Washington.
Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative has been one of the most effective in the region, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif serving as a trusted intermediary between Iran and other key parties. Sharif’s meeting with Pezeshkian produced the finding that Iran sees trust as the foundational requirement for any formal peace process. Pakistan’s contributions have been publicly praised by Tehran.
A significant multilateral diplomatic gathering in Pakistan is bringing together foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. Their discussions with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Sharif aim to produce a coordinated regional approach to de-escalating the conflict. The talks are one of the most important diplomatic events of the war so far.